The Health Center gained an 1,100-square-foot addition as well as indoor renovations, following the completion of a construction project during the week of fall break, according to Director of Health Services Brock Lutz.

Health center employees, who had been exiled to various parts of campus, have returned to the enlarged facility, which became fully operational on Oct. 17.

“It has been wonderful for all of us to be back under one roof,” Lutz said.

Construction started in June with the demolition of the back third of the old structure, which used to house a small lab and two older medical examination rooms, Lutz said. Plans for renovating the facilities had been ongoing for several years, but it wasn’t until February that the college board approved the project, according to Lutz.

The final steps of the project were mostly decorative, Staff Nurse Kari Coupland said.

“We made sure all the examination rooms and consult rooms were warm and welcoming and also able to function for their prescribed purposes,” Lutz said. “We did a lot of putting furniture together and had a lot of fun.”

The addition includes three new medical examination rooms, two new bathrooms, an office for the sports chiropractor, and two new multi-purpose rooms, Lutz said.

The examination rooms feature sinks, cabinet space, and big windows.

“It’s so nice to see the outside,” Coupland said.

Coupland said she appreciates the extra storage spaces in the new addition.

“Before, I had nowhere to store all of my supplies,” she said. “They were scattered everywhere.”

One of the multi-purpose rooms, located on the second floor, is a new kitchen and dining space for group counseling and staff meetings.

“We can eat here as a family,” she said. “We are planning on a soup day coming up soon.”

 The other multi-purpose room, located on the ground floor, features an open space for the dietician, counseling, and psychiatric services, along with an extensive fitness section for the chiropractor to use to build strength and conditioning in patients.

 

“The extension provides a lot more meeting space for us and students,” Lutz said. “Often, we had to share offices and that was often inconvenient or limited availability for counseling or chiropractic services.”

Outside, the addition features a wraparound porch and a newly paved parking lot on the south side of the building. Before, there was limited parking in front of and alongside the building, according to Coupland.

Lutz said the expansion will allow for the Health Center to provide more services and to serve more people.

“Our physician is now here for three hours a day and is able to treat students, staff, and their families,” he said. “Employees are able to either bill their insurance or pay a $50 self-pay rate, just like the students can pay.”

Despite having supply issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lutz said construction went well.

“There were some delays, but I think everyone involved really did their best to complete a beautiful project and get us back in as soon as possible,” he said.