Construction on the Colorado State University Health and Medical Center has reached an important milestone as building crews placed the last steel beam to “top out” the structural framework of the new facility.
More than 100 people gathered to celebrate this halfway point of construction at the topping out ceremony held Aug. 1. In the weeks leading up to the event, students, staff, faculty, donors, building partners and construction team members placed their permanent mark on this unique project by signing the ceremonial beam before it was hoisted to the top of the building’s north entry.
The four-story, 113,000-square-foot building, on the northwest corner of Prospect Road and College Avenue, will be owned and operated by Colorado State University.
It will serve as the home of CSU Student Health Network, which provides a full range of medical, mental health and health education and prevention services for CSU students. CSU Health Network will occupy the entire second and third floors of the building, providing integrated care for all students in one convenient, state-of-the-art location.
“The big vision is to improve the health and the presence of health and well-being on our campus,” said Anne Hudgens, executive director of CSU Health Network. “We’re pioneering new ground with an opportunity to do something for campus and community health that’s never been done before.”
From left, Associated Students of Colorado State University Vice President Mike Lensky, CSU Vice President for Student Affairs Blanche Hughes and ASCSU President Daniela Pineda-Soraca. Photos by CSU Photographer John Eisele
Expanded capacity for students
More than half of all students use the CSU Health Network each year, making it one of the most widely used services on campus. The new facility will expand the capacity to meet student needs and serve as an international model for campus health and well-being.
“Our students have been very supportive of building this new health center,” said Blanche Hughes, Vice President of Student Affairs. “It’s the passion and involvement of our students that make this building possible.”
“A lot of what we as students do with our time here at CSU is about what we leave behind,” added Callie Shea, President of CSU’s Student Health Advisory Council. “Steps we are taking to facilitate the construction of this building for future students shows the dedication that CSU has for providing the best of health care for its students.”
Adolfson and Peterson Construction Vice President Doug Johnson, left, talks with College of Health and Human Sciences Dean Jeff McCubbin. Johnson graduated from CSU with a degree in construction management in 1995.
Health care for the community
The new center also will house public health care services for CSU employees and community members provided by UCHealth and Associates in Family Medicine. Associates in Family Medicine will provide family/primary care (including prenatal and obstetric care), a walk-in clinic for acute illnesses, and sports medicine services. UCHealth will provide radiology and occupational health services.
In addition, the facility will feature the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, a dedicated space for cutting-edge research and educational outreach in partnership with CSU academic programs, including internationally recognized researchers from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
The Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center, the outreach arm of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, will also expand into the building to provide nutrition counseling to community members.
Anne Hudgens, left, executive director of the CSU Health Network, talks with attendees at the Aug. 1 topping-out ceremony.
Donors make it a reality
The $59 million project is funded through CSU student fees, CSU Health Network revenue, tenant leases and private donations, including a $5 million gift from UCHealth, a $5 million gift from Bob and Kitty Wilson on behalf of Columbine Health Systems, and generous gifts from The Griffin Foundation and Pat (’83) and Larry Kendall.
“We thank the generous donors for stepping forward to bring this dream into reality,” said Jeff McCubbin, Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. “Your mark has been left in many ways, and will shape our campus and community for decades to come.”
The CSU Health and Medical Center is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017.
