March 4, 1999


Improvements to Health Science Center Campus Approved by Regents

Fort Worth--The Board of Regents of the UNT Health Science Center has approved a 1999/2000 campus improvement program, involving completion of a Patient Care Center and construction of a new parking garage.

The project construction will begin this year, said Dr. David M. Richards, health science center president. The $19 million for both improvements through Tuition Revenue Bonds were approved by the Texas legislature in 1997.

Two floors of the health science center s Patient Care Center, located on Montgomery Street and West 7th Street, are now in use. Finishing and equipping the remaining four stories will consolidate all on-campus patient care services at one location. The Physicians & Surgeons Medical Group occupying the center includes 110 members of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty. They practice in 24 medical and surgical specialties and comprise Tarrant County s largest multi-specialty group practice.

The Patient Care Center completion will cost $7.5 million.

The new parking garage will feature four graduated levels directly behind the health science center s Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library. It will produce a net gain of 609 spaces for patients, students, faculty and staff. Costs associated with completion of this facility total $11.5 million.

Dr. Richards pointed out that the patient care facility and the parking garage will complement each other through convenient co-location. The garage location is designed to create a new entrance to the campus but will be accessible to the Patient Care Center.

Architect for the garage project is the Fort Worth firm of Gideon Toal, Inc.

Parking in the city s Cultural District is tight, especially during the annual Stock Show and Rodeo, and when major exhibits are mounted at the adjacent Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum, Dr. Richards noted. The institution s garage is intended to provide permanent relief for the entire neighborhood, he said, and will be open to the public on weekends.