DCU Quiet Space

Project Summary

For many students around Ireland, the return 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’ community CSR initiative, Codex has been a sponsor 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 assist in creating an environment for students with unique needs, we were in a great position to step up.

The Challenge

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 carried our surveys and looked at the way students moved through the building, identifying where footfall patterns were the heaviest. This allowed them to pinpoint the areas where sanctuaries or safe havens would work best. In the end, the team selected an unused corridor space 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 space was identified, Codex's Head of Furniture and Interiors, Kate Nelligan, worked alongside the team at DCU to identify appropriate soft-furnishing options that would be suitable for the dedicated quiet space.

The team at DCU had been considering installing beanbags in some corners of the building and designating them as quiet zones, but with our experience of working with other universities, we knew that more was needed. In such a large, busy, open space, students would need secluded ‘quiet’ zones where they could retreat and restore in peace.

The Strategy

Positioned in the south-west corner of the Henry Grattan building, our free-standing, enclosed ‘quiet space’ unit 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, as well as 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. Felt is deployed extensively, while all fabrics are soft to the touch with no rough or harsh materials and no sharp edges that could cause distress.

Acoustically, the quiet space is equipped with the highest level of sound control, so users are completely disconnected from the noise within the larger building. Meanwhile, the colour palette features gentle, muted tones – blue, green, grey, white – designed to soothe rather than stimulate. There are charging points to eliminate ‘range anxiety’, while the space is available to students without the need to book ahead – an additional reassurance factor.

Client Feedback

‘’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.”