Renovation of the Tempe campus Student Health Services Building is well underway with plans to expand both the first and second levels.
The building is being renovated to include an additional space to improve and increase the services available, said biology junior Tina Mounlavongsy, the Tempe Undergraduate Student Government vice president of services.
Construction began mid-December during winter break.
According to building plans on the health services website, 10,295 square feet will be added to the first floor and 9,074 square feet will be added to the second floor.
“If there are more rooms available for students to go into, I think … it will make the process go by faster,” psychology junior Lauren Busch said.
A rooftop garden is also included in the design plan, but because there is a limited supply of money allotted to the project, this additional expense will only occur if there is enough money to cover it, she said.
The expansion of the Student Health Services Building is an issue that USG has devoted time to because it is a place that every student on campus utilizes for one reason or another, Mounlavongsy said.
Funding for the renovation comes from each student’s health and wellness fee. For full-time students, the fee is $40 per semester.
The fee was passed three years ago with the purpose of financing the renovation and expansion, Mounlavongsy said.
She added that the renovated building should make all services more readily available and efficient.
The Student Health Services Building is remaining open throughout the renovation process. Students will be provided with an up-to-date construction guide located at the health services website.
This guide updates students on the construction with a blueprint of the plans and a 3D view of the building. This will be available until project completion, which should be in spring 2012.
“I look forward to having the expansion completed by spring 2012 and knowing that I won’t have to wait 30 minutes-plus to see a doctor when I’m sick or injured, and I’m sure my peers feel the same way,” Mounlavongsy said.
Busch seemed to agree.
“I can wait for two to three hours on some days if I didn’t make an appointment,” Busch said. “I think [the expansion] will definitely help the urgent care area.”
Busch said the construction is a little inconvenient at the moment.
“But I think once it is done, it will be great,” Busch said.
Reach the reporter at chward@asu.edu
