A brand new Health Services building opened on Jan. 7 at the corner of Normal Drive and Regents Avenue.

The new facility, which was completed over winter break, will provide Health Services with 20,000 square feet, according to the 2008 Capital Construction Project Status Report.

“Health Services needed more space and a better location,” said Wayne MacGregor, the business manager for Health Services.

“We have excellent doctors and nurses on our staff, and we wanted a facility to match it,” MacGregor said.

The building was constructed for about $5.6 million, said Doug Ault, director of planning, design and construction.

Before, Health Services was located at the center of campus in the Academic Complex, where no parking was available.

Now, students who are ill or on crutches have the option of driving to receive services.

The new building also provides more space for both employees and patients. There are 18 exam rooms and three waiting rooms.

“We have a premier and state-of-the-art facility,” said Kathy Trulock, a medical office associate at Health Services.

The waiting rooms are located in the front lobby and by the labs. There’s also a waiting room specifically for patients needing immunizations and allergy shots.

A nurse practitioner has been added to the staff of two physicians. This increases the number of students Health Services can serve daily.

Additional services will be added as the students’ needs are made clear.

Audiometry, which is the testing of hearing ability, has already been added.

“Health Services will expand its office hours as demand dictates,” said Libby Greaney, director of Health Services.

Although the staff has moved in and patients are being accepted, there are a few minor details that have yet to be finished.

They include touching up the paint and finishing the cabinetry, Senior Project Manager Ben Johnson said.

The official dedication of the building will be held at 8:20 a.m. on April 17.

Reach Danielle Bullock at news@chherald.com.