UND Today

University of North Dakota’s Official News Source

Campus on the move

Who’s who and where they are now as laid out by the University’s new Master Space Plan

former UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences building
Earlier this year, the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office and Academic Advising moved from Montgomery Hall to the former UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences building as part of the University’s Master Space Plan. More moves are slated to take place throughout campus. UND Archives photo.

The former home of UND’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences is alive with new activity as more units of the College of Arts & Sciences  relocate there.

The moves are part of the University’s Master Space Plan, designed to improve work and study environments and positively affect teaching and student success.

“Renovating existing buildings to upgrade the quality of space, consolidating into these larger upgraded facilities, and vacating other outmoded or inadequate spaces are all part of our master space plan” said Thomas DiLorenzo, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Earlier this year, the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office and Academic Advising moved from Montgomery Hall to the former medical school building.

Following them this summer will be staff and faculty offices for the Department of Psychology, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Communication, and the Office of Essential Studies.

Classes for these disciplines, as well as advising and other services offered by Essential Studies, will continue to meet in their regular locations for the remainder of the spring semester.  Beginning with the fall 2017 semester, at least four large lecture rooms located at the former medical school will accommodate classes from the departments as well as others from across campus.

The Integrated Health Clinics are expected to open in the former medical school building this fall.  These include the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinics, the Northern Lights Behavioral Health Center, and Clinical Psychology Services.  These clinics will share clinical and treatment space, office and waiting room space, and offer students and community clients easy parking and accessible entry.

Also relocating to this new hub of activity are two offices for services that the University provides students, faculty and staff.  Emily Holth, a professional consultant, will provide conflict management services, and the Community Violence Intervention Center will be housed in the building.

O'Kelley Hall
A number of upcoming vacancies and relocations from O’Kelley Hall will will allow for the construction of upgraded facilities there, including 10 enhanced student-learning spaces and a new instructional “MALL,” or Math Active Learning Lab. The MALL will be used for two beginning algebra courses. UND Archives photo.

Other moves

Later this month, the Office of General Counsel will move from O’Kelly Hall to Twamley Hall.

In April, staff and faculty from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics will relocate from O’Kelly Hall to a combination of space at the Nursing and Northern Plains Research Collaboration Buildings.  Slated to open this fall in the Nursing Building will be the department’s new laboratory-classroom combining a food preparation area with instructional /collaborative space.

“This is a more integrated approach to delivering the program’s curriculum which consists of time both in the classroom and the food laboratory,” DiLorenzo said. “We are excited to be creating an enhanced learning environment for these students.”

These moves will allow for the construction of upgraded facilities in O’Kelly Hall that include 10 enhanced student-learning spaces and a new instructional “MALL,” or Math Active Learning Lab. The MALL will be used for two beginning algebra courses.  Rather than attending traditional classroom lectures, students will work at their own pace on practice sessions and assignments through an instructional software system.

Also planned for this summer is a move for Theatre Arts faculty and departmental offices from Chandler Hall to Merrifield Hall.

Consolidation and costs

The University expects that consolidating departments into fewer facilities will enable it to not only reduce costs but also encourage collaboration across disciplines. By the end of 2018, the University expects to have vacated 13 buildings with the goal of saving more than $1 million in annual operating costs and $32 million in postponed building maintenance and repairs.

Facilities already vacated include the Women’s Center (305 Hamline Street), the Era Bell Thompson Center (2800 University Avenue), Dakota Hall (North 43rd Street), the Strinden Center, the Center for Community Engagement (317 Cambridge Street), the International Center (2908 University Avenue), and 2912 University Avenue.

Buildings to be fully vacated in the future include 314 Cambridge (the former Conflict Resolution Center), Corwin-Larimore Hall, Montgomery Hall, Chandler Hall, Gustafson Hall, and Robertson-Sayre Hall.

Story by Richard Larson, UND Today staff writer