Niner Nest gives campus a new place to rest and reset

Tired of flapping your wings? Need somewhere to land and rest? The Popp Martin Student Union has a new area students, faculty and staff can use to do just that.

The Niner Nest, located in Popp Martin Student Union, Room 280, is intended to be a quiet, restorative space for the campus community. The room features comfortable furniture and checkout lockers stocked with items such as noise‑canceling headphones, puzzles and weighted pillows, all set against a calming color palette.

The name “Niner Nest” nods to the University’s first mascot, the Night Owls, and to the geese that roam campus. The space also reflects the nest’s role as a home base and safe haven in nature.

“The goal of the Niner Nest is that when you enter the space your shoulders drop, your jaw unclenches and you can take some time to reset,” said Morgan Meehan, director of student centers.

The idea for the Niner Nest came from a student feedback survey on spaces and services they would like to see in student centers facilities. Seventy‑two percent of respondents said they would use a quiet or meditation lounge, making it a primary focus for the Student Centers Advisory Board.

Lisa Sain, project manager with the planning, design and construction team in Facilities Management, and the architect team from McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture were instrumental in creating the Niner Nest. Members of the 2025‑26 advisory board also provided significant feedback to the architects and student centers leadership on the direction of the space, how it should feel, what should be incorporated and the guidelines for its use.

The Niner Nest is open whenever the Popp Martin Student Union is open and is available to all active Charlotte students, faculty and staff. Those interested must tap their University ID to access the space. It is intended solely as a relaxing, quiet environment — a unique nook within the building.

“The space is designed for a specific experience and is not intended for meetings, group hangs, phone calls or napping,” Meehan said. “By honoring the purpose and guidelines of this space, we can ensure it remains valuable for the entire community.”

Written by: Wyatt Crosher