After two years of construction, the Barnes Center at The Arch opened on Monday, centralizing health and wellness on the Syracuse University campus. This is a part of a new vision to focus on mental health and wellness in a holistic way, said Cory Wallack, interim executive director. 

The new recreation complex features a climbing wall, an esports room, 50 to 60 drop-in fitness center classes per week, an indoor track mac court — a place to play sports like soccer, lacrosse and roller hockey — and a new pool area that boasts a large wall monitor that can show games and movies. 

Currently, the only areas that are open are health services, counseling, the pharmacy, pet therapy, the mind spa, weights and the climbing wall. But Wallack said the center is aiming to have all areas open by Sept. 13, the center’s official opening day, which will be marked by a dedication ceremony.  

SU and SUNY-ESF students can utilize all that the Barnes Center has to offer with a valid ID. There are no additional fees for any programs. 

The Barnes Center staff had their full staff orientation at noon last Saturday. As the Barnes Center was not fully completed, the staff gathered at the Flanagan Gymnasium. The orientation included a large meeting about emergency action plans, the importance of customer service, as well as breakout groups. The breakout groups focused on topics including how to best answer customer questions, approaching diversity and inclusion on the job and team bonding. 

Julieann Som, a sophomore biomedical engineering major working at the Barnes Center’s guest services, said there was a second day of orientation on Sunday for specific team training. She said she was excited to work at the new building. 

Not only has SU redesigned their recreation offerings, but also adapted how students can stay healthy, said Wallack.  

The aim of the Barnes Center was to have a centralized place where students can take care of themselves, Wallack said, adding that mental health is an indicator of retention and GPA. 

If a student walks into the counseling office and is struggling with anxiety or struggling with depression, Wallack said the staff will connect them to the appropriate services. He emphasized the fact that they’re going to look at it more in a holistic way of what someone’s needs are. 

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Wallack said that they have redesigned all of the services to better the student experience, including a different service model that is focused on drop-ins. The vision was to make the Barnes Center a student-centered space, he said. A student has the option to schedule a counseling appointment on the portal, but it isn’t necessary.  

The counseling center also has drop-in hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. This is different from the previous counseling services model — Wallack said for the past two years they’ve been revisioning the model to make it more accessible for students.   

Wallack said it’s organized so that a student can walk by the center if they’ve had a bad day and go in to “recharge.”   

“This is designed to help our students be successful. It’s designed to help them manage what can be a really stressful life and difficult period in time,” he said, assuring the model is for students.  

SU has also moved the MindSpa to the Barnes Center. The MindSpa consists of a main lobby and three private rooms with the purpose of helping students reset and recharge. 

In the winter, the MindSpa will have light therapy boxes to help students who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. The MindSpa is a self-guided area. The MindSpa’s main lobby in has massage chairs open for students to utilize. 

The pet therapy area is located next to the MindSpa. Like the other offerings, students can drop into the pet therapy area without making an appointment. Wallack said that 60 students came to its opening night on Tuesday. 

Wallack stressed that the Barnes Center is one team, and there should be something for everybody. 

“Even if you’re not here to see us as a therapist, go sit in our lobby and just hang out. We really want it to be a place to have for our students to come together with each other, and to have a place that they can have community, especially right now while Schine’s offline,” he said. 

Published on August 29, 2019 at 12:23 am

Contact Allison: alweis@syr.edu