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The University of Tampa has announced it will construct two new buildings on campus – an academic building and a Student Health Center – that will be completed by the next academic year. Both structures will be two stories and will be designed to be consistent with the look and style of other campus buildings. Plus, the University will be pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for both. Construction for both buildings is set to begin in early February. STUDENT HEALTH CENTERThe Student Health Center, which will replace the current facility, will total approximately 10,300 square feet and will include a waiting area, eight exam rooms, a triage space, pharmacy, staff offices, holding rooms, counseling offices and a group counseling room. The project is being supported in part by a generous gift from Dr. Stephen and Marsha Dickey, and is expected to be completed in September 2010. The current structure, located at North Brevard Avenue and North A Street on campus, will be demolished to allow for the construction of the new building, which will include landscaping. During the demolition and construction phase, UT will place a modular health facility on the University’s newly acquired property on Kennedy Boulevard. This temporary facility will be removed when the new health center opens in the fall. “We’re committed to provide top-level support for the wellness of all of our students, and this new facility will greatly help,” Bob Ruday, dean of students, said. “The new facility will allow our staff to provide health services more efficiently and effectively and will enhance students’ overall experience at UT. We’ll be able to see more patients, and they’ll have more privacy.” When the current Student Health Center building was acquired by the university in 1997, UT had approximately 2,800 students. Today, UT consists of 6,300 students. As such, demand for services at the Student Health Center is increasing. In an average month during the school year, the health center staff sees more than 1,000 patients for health and counseling services. Last semester the staff delivered nearly 1,000 flu shots alone. The architect and contractor for the project is the Beck Group. ACADEMIC BUILDINGThe new academic building announced today is phase one of a broader plan to expand academic facilities, according to President Ronald L. Vaughn. “This new facility will enhance the University of Tampa’s strong presence in biology and chemistry and certain pre-professional programs, and will serve as the foundation for future possible construction,” Vaughn said. The new academic building will be located on open ground on the north end of campus, near the Cass Building. The facility, which is expected to be completed in August 2010, will include approximately 8,000 square feet and will feature several distinct, state-of-the-art spaces: an organic chemistry laboratory, a chemistry research laboratory and offices on the second floor; a biology research laboratory on the first floor; and, faculty offices and a 35-seat general use classroom also on the first floor. The classroom will also be built with infrastructure to support future conversion to a 20-station instructional lab. Janet McNew, UT provost, said this addition to the Cass science complex will add permanent, high-quality laboratory, classroom and research space to the UT campus. “All are needed for our fast-growing programs in the College of Natural and Health Sciences,” McNew said. The architect for the academic building is Harvard Jolly Architecture, and the construction manager is Crossroads Construction.
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