The fourth and final phase of construction on the Health Professions Center began Sept. 23. This phase will include renovations, upgrades and an expansion of the Health Professions Center.
A fence blocks the southbound lane, leaving one lane open to enter campus through the University Blvd road. Additionally, an entrance facing the road is blocked off, requiring students to find an alternative route to the Health Professions Center.
Students can walk through the Wright Administration Building or the Science Center to enter the Health Professions Center for classes or appointments.
University Strategic Communication informed The Shield that a media event is planned for the future.
In an Operating and Capital Improvement Budget Request presented to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education Sept. 8, 2022, the project description mentions that the expansion will increase the range of health professions, have technology upgrades and create additional room for simulation spaces to provide real-life clinical experiences for students. The expansion and improvements are an effort to meet the demand for more trained professionals throughout the region and ease the burden of clinical offerings provided by private healthcare partners.
The construction has affected students, staff and patients.
Alexis Murphy, sophomore dental hygiene major, works at the Dental Health Clinic. She said construction “definitely” interferes with her travels between campus and her apartment.
Traffic has become a concern surrounding the construction site.
“People don’t drive as cautiously as they should with construction,” Murphy said. “They zoom on through.”
Construction has affected the arrival of USI Dental Clinic patients at their appointments.
Nicki Stremming, adjunct faculty member at the USI Dental Health Clinic, raised concerns about the clinic’s accessibility to patients during the construction.
“There’s trucks parked on this road up here [side entrance], and people can’t pull up to that area and drop people off,” Stremming said. “Also, our handicapped parking is blocked by lots, so when our patients come in, they can’t get into that lot because there are construction vehicles.”
Grace Gingerich, junior dental hygiene major, also mentioned concerns about patients visiting the clinic.
“The patients we see at the clinic are mainly elderly and are forced to walk greater distances in order to receive care,” Gingerich said.
At a Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 5, it was shared that the project cost $50 million.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.