By SCOTT BELL
A new name isn’t the only thing different about the BYU Student Health Center.
The new Health Center opened June 15 at 1750 N. Wymount Terrace Drive, just south of the Wymount Terrace married students apartment complex. Besides shedding the old McDonald Health Center title, the state-of-the-art Health Center features many other changes.
The new building is 36,380 square feet, twice the size of the McDonald Health Center, which was completed in 1955.
“Since that time, it has become outdated,” said J. Michael Stratton, director of campus construction projects. “It cannot accommodate the electrical and mechanical demands of modern medical equipment.”
The new building is designed to improve the capability of the clinical staff and provide better care for BYU’s student population.
“It features the latest technology for ambulatory care centers in a comfortable and hospitable atmosphere,” said Val H. Christensen, administrative director of the Health Center. “Students will benefit with shorter waiting times, comfortable waiting areas, improved examination areas and excellent medical technology.”
The new building is two stories tall with a partial basement. The basement is mostly mechanical and storage space. The main floor includes all patient services — including pharmacy, physical therapy, the exam room/clinic area, laboratory and phlebotomy areas, immunology, radiology and ambulatory care areas.
The second floor contains medical records, administrative offices, insurance and accounting offices, as well as staff meeting areas and break areas.
The ambulatory care, laboratory and radiology areas have their own entrance. They are designed to be separate from the rest of the building for after-hours and weekend use.
The Health Center was designed by Valentir Crane Brunjes Onyon Architects and constructed by the Bud Mahas Construction Company of Salt Lake City. Construction began in March 1997. The facility will be dedicated by President Hinckley in an invitation-only ceremony Sept.15 after the Tuesday Devotional.
“BYU’s health center will be unique among college campuses because of the beauty and efficiency of the building and the wide range of services that are provided,” Christensen said. “In addition, the location next to the Missionary Training Center will greatly decrease inconveniences and loss of time for the missionaries and is much closer to campus housing.”
