N.C. State’s Student Health Center will soon be undergoing a major renovation and addition. While there is already construction equipment at the Student Health Center, the two construction projects are separate.

Sumayya Jones-Humienny, the project manager for the renovation and addition to the Student Health Center, and Lynn Swank, the design project manager for the current construction, said the current project is minor compared to what will start in May or June.

“The current construction at Student Health Center is just a small, informal project. The real construction will start soon,” Jones-Humienny said.

The current construction on the north side of the Student Health Center is slated for completion in May 2010. This construction, on the Cates Avenue side of the Student Health Center, is a sidewalk restoration process.

Some students find this current construction to be confusing and, in general, a distraction.

According to the N.C. State Web site, the Student Health Center is home to medical clinics, physical therapy, the pharmacy, the lab, x-rays, medical records, the cashier, Disability Services for Students, the Counseling Center, Health Promotion and the gynecology clinic.

“Student Health Center is going have about 27,000 square feet renovated, and there will be an addition of 23,000 square feet. The addition will be two stories to match the rest of the building,” said Jones-Humienny. “We’re also planning to upgrade the parking lot behind Student Health Services during this renovation and addition.”

According to Jones-Humienny and the Web site, the Student Health Center is being expanded to accommodate for the University’s expanding student population. Currently, there are about 32,000 students. Within the next ten years, it is expected that there will be 40,000 students.

“Student Health Center is already overcrowded. Everyone is crowded in the building as much as they can be,” Jones-Humienny said.

The plans for construction are in the final stages of completion. Following that will be the bidding process, and construction is expected to start in late May or early June. The estimated completion date is August 2011.

“We have divided construction in several different phases, which will allow Student Health Center to continue to operate. We will make sure Student Health Center continues to operate,” Jones-Humienny said. “It won’t necessarily be pretty during construction, but it will operate just the same.”

For the most part, all the services that are currently in the Student Health Center will remain there. However, Disability Services for Students is being moved from the building at the beginning of construction and will be housed in the First Year College Commons, which is right beside the Student Health Center. Health Promotion will also be removed from the building and moved to Harrelson Hall.