This coming January 9, 2017, a new Student Health and Wellness Center is projected to open. The associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, Sue Wasiolek stated that this 72,000 square-foot-spaced building will combine all health resources on campus. She said, the center consists of three stories with a one-story extension. To be situated on the first floor is the Student Wellness Center, DukeReach, nutrition services and a pharmacy. The second floor is where the Student Health Center will be located .In addition, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and a physical therapy suite will be located on the third floor. A meditation center will be also provided for student use.
According to Wasiolek, an atrium on each floor will be provided wherein students can hang out and relax. She added that she is most enthusiastic about walking at any level in the building and not bumping into a medical or clinical environment. She said that the atrium will be very inviting as well as really comfortable such that students will probably want to return it as cited on Duke Today.
The associate dean and director of the Student Wellness Center, Thomas Szigethy, described that through its style and décor, the building itself symbolizes wellness. He expounded that for the building to become an example of environmental welfare, they used up a lot of natural elements into it, like stones and other woodworks.
According to Wasiolek, the original design of the building was actually bigger than what it is right now, although it still appeared very large.
The director of CAPS, Danielle Oakley, said that there is only enough area in the building for the center's occupants. She added that it will allow a better collaboration between their offices and departments since CAPS, which is currently located in three different sections of Page building, will now be together in one location.
Historically, this is the first time in Duke that all student health and wellness services will be located in the same building which according to Wasiolek, would grant the agencies to practice an integrative ,comprehensive, and holistic approach to student well-being.
Szigethy noted that the having the Student Wellness Center, DukeReach, Student Health and CAPS under one roof is a great advantage because it will be easy to direct the students back and forth between the resources without any traveling inconvenience across campus. Oakley also stressed out the location and the convenience as benefits of the new building. Even if the CAPS offices this time are still accessible by the use of stairs, an elevator will be placed in the new center so that all students will be able to visit the facilities.
In addition, students stated that they look forward for the new facility to be more convenient. Maddie Nelson , a sophomore in the University, said that the only time she went to the Student Health was when she had a cold and that it was really difficult to find. She added that if it is already now in one place, that will be better as cited on Duke Chronicle.
Szigethy stated that the intention of having new center is to encourage students to choose and make health and wellness a lifestyle. According to Wasiolek, the center was built for students so that they could clearly see that the University was committed to their health and wellness. They hope that the students themselves would also hold the significance of their own health and wellness lifestyle."
