The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) saw a need to modernize its student health facilities to meet the evolving needs of its growing student population. The university had experienced six straight years of record overall enrollment and a 30 percent increase in the demand for health and counseling services since 2012.

To make room for a new center that would consolidate the existing Counseling and Wellness Center and Student Health Services Center into one centrally located complex, the design team decided to renovate approximately 26,000 square feet on the third floor of the Learning Resource Center.

The new UAB Student Health and Wellness Center opened in August 2014 and is located in the center of campus and in close proximity to residence halls and other areas students frequent.

The design, by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. (GMC, Montgomery, Ala.), follows an integrated health and wellness model and is equipped to deliver primary care with counseling space, exam rooms, laboratory spaces, an immunization area, X-ray room, waiting rooms, administrative areas, and offices. Health education and promotion programming will also be offered in addition to training opportunities for medical residents.

Collaborative work stations are used to facilitate more seamless delivery of care and enhance the ability to consult with colleagues. In conjunction with the facility’s opening, UAB launched an electronic health records system and portal for scheduling appointments online, along with an open access appointment system that allows students to schedule appointments on the day they call.

An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 patients are projected to use the facility each year.