UHCL opens two new buildings in time for fall 2018 semester

UHCL is steadily growing with the new addition of a Recreation and Wellness Center and STEM and Classroom Building finally established, and two other buildings underway.

The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center was conceptualized in October 2016, and construction was completed in August 2018.

With only a swipe of their UHCL ID, students have access to an abundance of amenities.

“Open recreation is the most widely used,” said Brian Mills, director of Recreation and Wellness. “This is when patrons swipe their UHCL ID or member ID and come into the facility to workout, play basketball, stretch or run the track. No formal program just come in and be physically active.”

In addition to open recreation, students also have the opportunity to take part in intramural sports, fitness programs and special events that the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center hosts.

“Intramural sports are formalized sports programs,” Mills said. “We [also] offer personal training on an individual and small group basis. We will be rolling that out by Sept. 17, and there is an additional charge for those services as they are individual services.”

Mills pointed out that the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center has quickly become a place for students to connect and make friends.

“We want to be the spark that leads people to a healthier and happier life…this is a chance to make some serious impacts in your quality of life and be more engaged on campus,” Mills said.

Fall 2018 also marked the completion of the STEM and Classroom Building.

The new building features a 3-story section for classrooms and teaching and research labs including 13 faculty research labs and 15 teaching labs for mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, geology, industrial hygiene and environmental safety and more.

There is still more to come as 2019 approaches. The UHCL Residence Hall opens Fall 2019, and its mission is to provide a “home away from home.”

Dean of Students David Rachita said that a traditional residence hall goes far beyond a place to “lay one’s head.”

“The relationships that are created through both informal and formal activities become life-long, lasting and significant,” Rachita said. “A residence hall can’t help but to become ‘home away from home.’”

Students living in the Residence Hall will have access to a variety of rooms and services.

There will be two types of rooms students can choose from, a suite-style double room or a single room that features a private bathroom. Each room is fully furnished, and an Ethernet port is also available.

The Residence Hall will have services including a full-service front desk, laundry facilities on each floor, a community kitchen, electronic card access to the building and more.

Rachita pointed out that UHCL’s student community is beginning to transform.

“The energy, enthusiasm and activities have greatly increased,” Rachita said. “Student clubs and organizations are flourishing, and we only anticipate that additional students living on campus will help to continue this vibrancy.”

In addition to UHCL’s main campus gaining another new building soon, the Pearland campus is gaining a new Health Sciences and Classroom Building. It is projected to open spring 2019.

Some of the features the new Health Sciences and Classroom Building will have are simulated hospital rooms, 100-seat tiered lecture hall, 42-seat active learning classroom, 48-station computer teaching lab and study zones.

“The Health Sciences and Classroom Building will provide additional space and resources for students in nursing, administration, behavioral sciences, and other fields,” said Kathy DuPree, executive director of operations at UHCL’s Pearland campus. “The additional space will allow us to increase the quality of successful health science programs such as our RN-to-BSN and Licensed Professional Counselor Certifications programs.”