For many students around Ireland, returning to university life post-pandemic has not been all plain sailing. Many third-level institutions have reported a sharp rise in the number of students seeking mental health support as they deal with stress, uncertainty and other challenges arising from COVID-19.

As part of our Codex Cares initiative, Codex has been a supporter of DCU’s (Dublin City University) ‘Access to the Workplace’ programme since it launched in 2019. This provides gifted students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to pursue a third-level education that might not otherwise be attainable for them.

We also work with many other leading Irish schools and universities, providing furniture and fit-outs and devising specialist support facilities. Therefore, when DCU approached us to furnish a dedicated space for students who find the sensory environment challenging, we were in a great position to step up.

As in all universities, the Henry Grattan building in DCU is a noisy, lively, colourful bustle of activity. The atmosphere is cheerful and upbeat, but it’s easy to see how some students might experience stress and sensory overload with so much going on.

Before the project commenced, DCU conducted surveys and looked at how students moved through the building, identifying where footfall patterns were the heaviest. In such a large, open space, students needed quiet zones where they could retreat and recharge. The research helped pinpoint the ideal locations for these sanctuaries. Ultimately, the team selected an unused corridor on the main floor of the Henry Grattan Building that they wanted to repurpose from being a space to recharge phones to a space to recharge oneself.

Once the location was chosen, Codex’s Category Manager of Furniture and Interiors, Kate Nelligan, collaborated with the DCU team to select the soft furnishings for the new space. The focus was on choosing soft furnishings that would help to create a comfortable and calming environment for students seeking a quiet retreat.

Positioned in the southwest corner of the Henry Grattan building, The DCU Quiet Space measures 5 metres x 2 metres and can accommodate up to six students at a time. Within the overall structure, there are two individual pods where students can be completely isolated, an individual study space, and a number of beanbags.

Given the need to provide a neutral, calming space, we paid particular attention to the materials we used for the furnishings. The colour palette features gentle, muted tones – blue, green, grey, and white – designed to soothe rather than stimulate.

The space is available to students without the need to book ahead, which is an additional reassurance factor.

At the heart of this project was creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. DCU aimed to develop a dedicated Quiet Space designed to accommodate the needs of neurodivergent individuals by providing a calm and sensory-friendly setting. Therefore, bringing this vision to life required collaboration between experts in design, construction, and furnishing.

The DCU Autism Friendly Design Guide, designed by Magda Mostafa, established the original design parameters for The DCU Quiet Space. Comma Architects worked closely with DCU Estates to design the space, Murcom Construction brought the vision to life by carrying out the build, while Codex partnered with DCU to furnish the space.

‘’Thanks to our partners Codex, we are delighted to have this essential space for our students. It’s vital that we can provide a quiet space where anyone who is struggling or feeling overwhelmed can feel safe and secure while remaining engaged with their studies. It’s a welcome addition to campus and we’re very grateful to Codex for the design and direction they have provided.”