New construction brings new opportunities to UHCL

Students returning from summer vacation or new to the UHCL campus may be curious about the construction of the new buildings next to the Student Services and Classroom Building (SSCB). The buildings under construction are the STEM Building and the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC), both of which are being made to accommodate new students and provide new services to the entire campus.

The development of the new buildings was proposed by UHCL administrators and approved by a student vote in 2015. The groundbreaking took place during the summer of 2017, with an approved budget of more than $100 million. The expected completion date is August 2018.

The STEM Building’s will provide a learning environment for fields of studies that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with brand new labs and classrooms to accommodate the curriculum.

The RWC will contain both an exercise wing and an academic wing. The exercise wing of the building will add more recreation options from the existing gym in the SSCB on a larger scale with such additions as a basketball court and swimming pool. The RWC will also accommodate classes on subjects such as biomechanics and exercise physiology.

Ward Martaindale, associate vice president of facilities, management, and construction, explained the necessity of the new buildings for the campus.

“Both buildings provide UHCL additional facilities needed to meet the needs of a changing campus as we grow from an upper-level university to a full four-year university by adding academic space to satisfy a rapidly growing demand,” Martaindale explained. “Two years ago, students realized how important it was to have a recreation center at UHCL and approved a fee that allowed the building to be built.  The vision of these students will benefit UHCL students for many years to come.”

However, the present construction plans do not include provisions for any additional parking. Students like Savannah Kaminski, biology major, are worried about the lack of additional parking to accommodate the new buildings. Kaminski says the student lot has been the most crowded since she’s attended UHCL, and she is worried this problem might be exacerbated with the construction of two brand new buildings that bring new classes to the campus.

“This semester is the first and only time I’ve ever had to park on the far end of the parking lot,” Kaminski said.

Martaindale replied to students’ concerns by explaining that the placement of designated spaces will be evaluated and shifted to support parking needs on the north end of Lot D.

“Our current master plan project includes analysis of parking spaces and projected needs over the next several years,” Martaindale said.

In the meantime, Kaminski suggests that students walking to their cars should show other students, who are driving down the lanes, what space they are exiting from, so that these students do not have to keep driving in order to find a spot and potentially show up late to their classes.

A student housing complex is scheduled to break ground in Spring 2018. It will be located next to the RWC. The cost is an estimated $22 million with a completion date of Fall 2019.

“Students living on campus will turn UHCL into a 365/24/7 environment,” said David Rachita, dean of students. “UHCL will truly become home to these students in every sense of the word and thus create an environment that is alive and vibrant. School spirit already is at an all-time high but, once students call this home, the connection and sense of belonging will multiply greatly.”