From the Ground Up: MSU Taylor Health and Wellness Center

Owner/developer: Missouri State University
General contractor: K&S Associates Inc. (St. Louis)
Architect: Hastings & Chivetta Architects Inc. (St. Louis)
Engineers: CJW Transportation Consultants LLC, civil; Alper Audi Inc. (St. Louis), structural; and Ross & Baruzzini Inc. (St. Louis), mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 39,994 square feet
Estimated cost: $13 million
Lender: None
Estimated completion: January 2018
Project description: The health clinic on Missouri State University’s campus is being replaced with a new building opening in early 2018. The new center is twice the size of the old building, which was built in 1969 and is almost at capacity, according to school officials. “This new facility will provide patient exam rooms, an urgent care facility, counseling offices, wellness rooms and a drive-up window for the pharmacy,” said Lauren Webster, associate director of planning, design and construction for MSU. The original clinic was built for a student body of 9,000 and now there are 24,000 students. MSU spokeswoman Nicki Donnelson said the school issued $12.7 million in bonds, underwritten by Hilltop Securities Inc., to fund the project. This fall, a student-approved fee of $29 per semester began being applied to tuition to cover the annual bond payments.