The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Saturday approved the
program statement and budget for a new parking structure at the University
of Nebraska Medical Center.
The parking structure will be located on the south side of Emile Street,
across from an existing parking garage and the Durham Outpatient Center.
This structure will partially satisfy an existing parking space deficit
on the campus, will replace surface parking losses resulting from new building
construction, and will accommodate faculty, staff and student increases
that are forecast with the completion of the Research Center for Excellence,
said Don Leuenberger, vice chancellor for business and finance at UNMC.
Construction on the $19 million parking structure will coincide with
construction of the 10-level RCE, which will be located on the west edge
of campus. Private funds, including a substantial gift from Omaha philanthropist
Charles Durham, will pay for the $77 million research center and for a
portion of the parking structure. Other funds for the structure will come
from the OPPD lease agreement and parking fees charged to UNMC employees.
Nearly 1,500 parking stalls will be provided within the structure. The
entire first level, comprised of 200 spaces including a high bay storage
area, will be leased to the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). Last month,
the regents approved an exchange and lease agreement with OPPD for the
property that will house the parking structure. UNMC will manage and maintain
the structure, which is expected to be complete in late summer 2002.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment
to research, education, outreach and patient care, UNMC has established
itself as one of the country’s leading centers for research in cancer,
genetics, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and arthritis.
During the past year, UNMCs research funding increased by 31 percent and
now exceeds $40 million, including more than $25 million in federal funding
from such sources as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science
Foundation, Department of Defense and Veterans Administration.