Unipol manager Dan Porter said the new area provided a quieter, calmer, cosier, low-stimulus environment for people who may find usual gyms overstimulating or overwhelming.
It had already been given the thumbs up by some neurodivergent students.
Only about eight people could use the space at a time.
The type of equipment used in it had been carefully selected.
"You can’t put a treadmill in there because it’s just going to go bang, bang, bang.
"You’ve got to put equipment in there that will work in a quiet environment.
"So we’ve got what’s called a recumbent bike, upright cycles, rowing machines and a selection of dumbbells that only go up to a certain weight so they won’t clunk and clang."
Work was also ongoing to dim the lighting in the area to further reduce stimulus, he said.
"One of the elements of creating a quieter space is reducing how bright it is.
"It’s not something we’ve been able to achieve yet, but we’re still working on it."
The new space was created because there had been constant feedback from students saying the facility was too busy for them.
The environment had been created intentionally because it helped stimulate and inspire students to go there.
But not everyone was the same when it came to recreation, Mr Porter said.
"Not everyone wants to be in those busy spaces.
"So now we’re trying to provide another option by creating a quieter space.
"We have to try to cater for a wide range of student needs.
"Students need somewhere to go to have fun, connect and just take that break that the human body needs after periods of intense study."
Students were already saying they were enjoying "the serenity" of the new space.
"It’s about the vibe — it’s a nice environment.
"It gives students the ability to remove themselves and find a more passive environment."
The University of Otago recently had outstanding results in last year’s Tertiary Education Commission educational performance indicators, which showed the university ranked No 1 among New Zealand’s universities for retaining students from 2022 to 2023.
"One of the connectors to that is places like this, where people can feel part of the university.
"So if we can create that connection, whether it be socially or in a place that’s quiet, we know students will enjoy their time here.
"That’s the most important thing — if we can get them to enjoy their experience, they’ll stay."
