The University of Nebraska Medical Center breaks ground today on a new 6,525-square-foot addition and 11,845 square feet renovation to two floors of the Student Life Center building at 40th and Jones streets.
The $6 million redevelopment and expansion project was approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents at its May meeting and made possible by a donation by Omaha philanthropists Ruth and Bill Scott.
A UNL graduate, Bill Scott joined Buffett Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970 where he remained until the early 1990s. Ruth Scott earned her bachelor’s degree in education from UNL in 1951 and is the founder of the Omaha Bridge Studio.
Nebraska natives, the Scotts have made multiple gifts to UNMC, including their latest gift to establish the Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education/UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, currently under construction. Completion of the $35 million project is set for July 2015.
"One needs not look very far to see the Scotts’ incredible impact at UNMC," said Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., chancellor. "Their gifts have literally transformed our campus and we can’t thank them enough for their continued support."
Dr. Gold said the latest gift continues the Scotts’ commitment to improving the educational environment for students and making UNMC a world class academic health science center.
In addition to Dr. Gold and Ruth Scott, other speakers at today’s 3 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony include:
- Jayme Nekuda, Ph.D., interim director of human resources at UNMC;
- Krupa Savalia, an M.D., Ph.D. student and current president of the UNMC Student Senate; and
- Eric Nagengast, fourth-year medical student and grandson of the Scotts.
Beginning at 3 p.m. students will compete on a giant inflatable obstacle course and play bungee cord basketball. Exercise equipment and workout demonstrations also will be available, as well as refreshments. Remarks will be made at 3:30 p.m.
"Physical fitness is not something you get from a textbook, but it’s key to maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle and is just as important as being mentally sound," Savalia said.
Once completed, the facility will feature larger locker rooms with private changing areas and showers, permanent areas for stretching and table tennis, as well more space for additional strength and fitness machines.
"Our campus Student Life Center is a wonderful melting pot for students and employees of all ages and wellness ability," said Michael McGlade, a longtime user of the fitness facility and an administrator in the College of Medicine. "Our fitness facility had become antiquated and was badly in need of an update. The Scotts couldn’t have given us a better gift."
The existing fitness facility, known as the Center for Healthy Living, opened in 1996 inside the 64,755-square-foot Student Life Center on the east edge of the Omaha campus. It has become a hub for the 3,000 faculty, staff and students who use it.
"These types of facilities ultimately are a terrific investment that potential students and employees look for when considering where to go to work and school," Nekuda said. "I’m confident that this will inspire even more students and employees to use the facility."
A group of UNMC students, including Nagengast, was instrumental in providing input on what elements the students wanted in the new fitness facilities.
"Medical centers are all about good health," Nagengast said. "Healthier employees and students strengthen UNMC and an improved fitness center will make the campus life experience that much better."
Construction is set to begin in March 2015 and be completed by March 2016.