The Built Environment Council (BEC) is one of five President’s Councils at HSC established to address challenges and opportunities designated by the President and Cabinet. The BEC is comprised of eight to 10 members with a designated leader and a Dean representing each college, focused specifically on issues impacting buildings, space allocation and management, parking and other real property.
In December 2021, the BEC was tasked with identifying areas on campus needing renovation because of aging facilities and to increase space utilization throughout HSC. During the past several months, the Council has worked diligently to prioritize initiatives based on need and determine the financial impact of each project. This included evaluating department growth projections and reviewing floor plans and space allocations of every building on campus.
After extensive review and analysis, the BEC made the following recommendations that were approved and are currently in the planning phase:
Renovating the second floor of the Carl E. Everett Education and Administration Building (EAD) to design an efficient, highly functional space for the Institute of Health Disparities. Highlights of this renovation include:
- Creating an open, inviting space that includes a mix of private offices, flexible meeting rooms and communal space.
- The new area also includes a large gathering space on the north end of the second floor that will connect to the newly expanded courtyard.
With the recent departure of the Medical School, we are excited about maximizing the space on the third and fourth floors in the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Building (IREB) per the following:
- IREB, third floor – The College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacotherapy will occupy this area. This move will consolidate the majority of the College of Pharmacy into one building, fostering more cohesion and collaboration.
- IREB, fourth floor – We’re in the process of moving the School of Health Professions into this space (versus currently being spread out across multiple buildings). This area will now include the Departments of Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy and Lifestyle Health Sciences.
Other areas across campus that will be addressed include renovating labs in EAD and Research and Education (RES), as well as making enhancements and improvements to the Library, Health Pavilion and some other auxiliary buildings on campus.
We’re excited about the progress made thus far and the changes ahead as we all work together to create a highly functional, cohesive campus that exceeds the expectations of our students, staff and faculty.
Please direct questions to Jason Hartley at Jason.Hartley@unthsc.edu.