Newswise — (St. Louis)-A major construction project will soon be underway, which will transform the look of one of St. Louis’ oldest colleges. Very soon, a six-story academic building will rise on the campus of St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
“This is truly an historic day at St. Louis College of Pharmacy,” says College President John A. Pieper, Pharm.D. “For a long time, many have considered the College a hidden gem in St. Louis. That will no longer be the case. Combining the strength of our Doctor of Pharmacy program, research and academic collaborations with institutions around the region, our excellent faculty, and this impressive new building, we will be a highly visible presence in the Central West End.”
The building will be placed on the east side of campus along Taylor Avenue. There will be 213,000 square feet of floor space, which will include a large auditorium, several large classrooms, smaller classrooms, study areas, and 30,000 square feet of research space. The library will more than triple in size, and there will also be a welcome center for prospective students and their families.
“As health care delivery models are changing, pharmacists are becoming leaders of patient-centered health care teams and research initiatives,” Pieper says. “These new facilities will ensure St. Louis College of Pharmacy graduates continue to be seen as excellent pharmacists who continue to push the profession of pharmacy forward.”
The building process began more than a year ago. In February 2013, the College’s Board of Trustees approved a new campus master plan that called for a new academic and research building. The state-of-the-art space supports the College’s vision of being globally prominent in health care education, interprofessional patient-centered care, and collaborative research.
Demolition of the Cartwright Student Center and gym will begin in March with groundbreaking on the new building following soon after. The College has a 14-month timetable for the building to be complete. The project will be financed with the support of donors, including alumni and friends of the College. Bonds will also be issued.
“Thanks to the generosity of alumni and donors throughout our history, the College is on firm financial footing,” Pieper says.
The College chose Cannon Design as its architectural firm. As part of the master planning process, designers and College administrators looked at buildings at other universities, including other colleges of pharmacy, to see what has been built recently and what are the current best practices in designing new spaces. The architects also took a close look at existing College facilities to come up with their recommendations. St. Louis-based Paric Corporation will manage construction.
“St. Louis College of Pharmacy has been part of this community for nearly 150 years,” Pieper says. “I am very happy that we used a local architect and construction firm. Nearly all of the construction money will be spent for labor and materials within a 100-mile radius of St. Louis.”
Renderings of the new building are available on the College’s Web site at www.stlcop.edu.
About St. Louis College of Pharmacy: Founded in 1864, St. Louis College of Pharmacy is the fourth oldest and 10th largest college of pharmacy in America. Located in the heart of one of the world’s finest biomedical research and patient-care centers, the College provides innovative education, research, and career opportunities for students. The College integrates the liberal arts and sciences with a professional curriculum and introductory and advanced practice experiences where students can develop expertise and become leaders in the profession and their communities. Beginning in the fall of 2014, the seven-year curriculum leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree will also include a Bachelor of Science degree. The College admits students directly from high school and accepts transfer students and graduates from other colleges and universities. More than 1,300 students are currently enrolled from 28 states and several countries, including Canada, China, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, and Vietnam. College alumni practice throughout the nation and in 13 different countries, providing a strong network to assist students with their goals. Additional information is available at www.stlcop.edu.-XXX-
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