UC Riverside celebrated the completion of its new Student Health and Counseling Center on Friday, Sept. 22 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 39,450-square-foot, two-story building at the north side of campus brings together medical, mental health, and well-being services into one location and modern facility for the first time. 

“It just seems like yesterday we were breaking ground and now we are open and ready to provide the highest quality holistic care for our 26,000 students,” said Denise Woods, associate vice chancellor of Health, Well-being and Safety.

Student Health Services; Counseling and Psychological Services; Case Management Services; and the Student Well-being, Intervention, and Follow-up Team, or SWIFT, are now housed at the new building. The Well and Basic Needs also have satellite space at the new facility.

Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox noted that when he meets parents at orientation he thanks them for entrusting their children’s care to the university, which he described as a responsibility that UCR takes seriously.

“We educate them, we help them grow as citizens, and keep them healthy and safe,” he said. “This building is probably the best exemplar of that commitment.”

Many of the speakers at the event noted how different the new center is from the Veitch Building, which was built in the 1960s and housed Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services until now.

The new building is open and airy, features natural light, and creates a collaborative space for different areas of wellness to work together, they noted.

Dr. Kenneth Han, chief medical officer for Student Health Services, said the design of the building and the updated technology create a synergy that allows for better student care. His team already conducted a mock clinic testing out the new space in preparation for the opening.

“The flow is much easier for students to quickly access quality care,” he said. “It’s almost 100% more efficient and improved.”