Construction at the Student Health Center started only three weeks ago, but according to Jerry Barker, the director of Student Health Center, there has been good progress.
Two portions of Student Health Services have been removed from the building and relocated, but all other services will stay. Disability Services has been moved to the third floor of First Year College Commons and Health Promotions was moved to the third floor of Harrelson Hall.
The overall construction project plan is to add 23,600 square feet to the already existing 42,900 square feet. This is over a 50 percent growth in space for the Student Health Center.
According to Barker, the Student Health Center opened twelve years ago, and there have been no renovations or additions made to the building.
“The overall goal of this project is to expand and renovate the building so that Student Health can accommodate the expected 40,000 students that will attend N.C. State in 10 years,” Barker said.
The construction is divided into four different phases. They have been mapped out and the drawings are posted in room 2301 of the Student Health Center.
According to Barker, the first and current phase will hopefully be completed by the time the University opens in the fall. This phase consists of demolishing the parking lot, building up the area for the addition and laying plumbing in the area where the addition will be. Inside the existing building, the new pharmacy area and lounge will be completed.
“Our goal is that the pharmacy will have moved by mid-August, from their current location to their new location, which will be where disability services was located,” said Barker. “This move will put pharmacy in a bit of a mess since the existing pharmacy space will then have to be renovated for the expanded pharmacy.”
According to Barker, the new pharmacy area will occupy the existing area as well as where Disability Services was located. The expanded pharmacy will have more space for storage and the pharmacists to work. There is also the possibility of another pharmacist being added.
“Hopefully by spring break, Women’s Health will move into their new location, which will be in the addition. As well, the new addition will house Disability Services, Physical Therapy, Lab and X-ray, Administration offices, a larger classroom, Urgent Care and the Evening Nurse Clinic,” said Barker.
In the future, counseling will expand to fill the area where Women’s Health currently is. The Counseling Center will occupy the second floor of the existing building, all the way from the side closest to First Year College to the circle area, at the main Cates Ave. entrance, according to Barker.
“The Counseling Center really needs this additional space,” said Barker. “We have three people in the receptionist office of the Counseling Center. The addition will give them a lot more space.”
According to Barker, the most inconvenient time for students and patients will be the second half of the spring semester. This is when the renovations will be inside the building.
“I think after spring break there will be the most noise, the most dirt and the most inconvenience to students,” said Barker.
The parking lot behind Student Health has been closed since the construction began and will remain completely closed until mid-August. At that point, about half the lot will be re-opened and used for staff and patients.
“As for now, patients obtain a patient permit and park in West Lot, Dan Allen Deck, or in the RE Spaces,” said Barker.
In order to finance the Student Health Center addition, there is a $35 debt service fee for all students. According to Barker, the present building is already paid for. The addition and renovations are being paid for with the debt service fee.
“We have had strong student support. When this plan first came about, the student groups we presented it to supported us,” said Barker. “Students realize how important this service is to the University.”
According to Barker, about 56 percent of the student population used the Health Center in the last academic year, totaling more than 60,000 patient visits.
“In choosing our general contractor, we wanted someone with experience in renovating occupied spaces,” said Barker. “So far, we have been very pleased by the organization and strategies of our general contractor and sub-contractors. A lot of night and weekend work is being done on this project in order to inconvenience the building occupants and students the least possible.”