Construction began Monday on the new Student Health Center at the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Pat Head Summitt Street, the former site of The Rock.
The construction includes closures of the Staff 23 lot and two fraternity lots, F10 and F11. It will partially affect F9, off of Fraternity Park Dr., but this lot will be reopened after the building’s completion.
Brian Browning, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, believes inconveniences to parking and traffic will be minor.
“For the most part, there will not be any road closures,” Browning said. “In the event that there are, they will let us know well in advance, and they will only be a few days at the most. It won’t be anything like the renovation of Neyland Stadium as far as road closures.”
Effective immediately, employees who normally park in the closed lot may use other Staff 23 spaces or Staff 28 spaces located on Andy Holt Avenue. New signs will be installed to allow Staff 23 permits in these spaces.
Some street spots will be closed as well, possibly making it difficult to find parking on fraternity row.
The 109,242 square-foot health center will be built near the old site of The Rock, which was moved across the street last July for the new facility.
Browning said the building should be finished in less than 18 months. The center’s staff will then “quickly” move its services to the new building.
Jim Boyle, administrator of Student Health Services, said the administration “is very excited” about the new facility for several reasons.
“We don’t have the space in this building to provide the services that we have the ability to provide,” Boyle said.
A major benefit of the new building’s space will be the ability to better secure student privacy.
“We are just kind of toe-to-toe in here,” Boyle said. “We are really looking forward to being able to enhance student confidentiality.”
The projected cost of the building itself is around $13 million, but that could easily change.
“It’s hard to tell exactly right now how much it will cost,” Boyle said. “Of course, there will be many other costs when we actually begin to move into the new building.”
Other upgrades will take place with the move, including new treatment divisions and significant electronic improvements.
“We are hoping to eventually go with electronic record systems,” Boyle said. “Students will also be able to schedule appointments electronically to the health center.”
The Student Health Center offers many services to students, and all clinicians are provided under the portion of the Programs and Services Fee designated from each semester’s tuition.