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Cuneo renovation begins

Message originally sent Monday, June 14, 2021 


2021 Cuneo Center Image for News 500wMQ.jpg

Dear Parkinson Family:

I am excited to share with you the next evolution of the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health: renovation of the John and Huerta Cuneo Center at the Health Sciences Campus, starting today, Monday, June 14.

This is the first of four stages to establish our identity and create a shared sense of space and place: (1) central administration; (2) Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) lab remodeling on the building’s lower level; (3) greater co-location of faculty and staff in the Center for Translational Research & Education (CTRE); and (4) co-location and expansion of our office footprint for Lake Shore Campus (LSC) faculty and staff. More to follow on all of the changes as the University returns fully back to campus.

For now, we are excited about the Cuneo renovation, which will begin on the fourth floor. The University and architecture firm have been wonderful collaborators in helping us build a space that will continue to serve our needs as the school grows and evolves. Thank you to the students, staff, and faculty who engaged in the planning process and provided input into how we could best share space. This initiative will provide more flexible spaces for student and faculty use, increased natural light, and enhanced security. 

Originally paused due to the pandemic, the first remodeling phase will include a space for student collaboration and the first home for the School’s Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurism. Additionally, plans include co-locating program departments in the CTRE. We will have designated administrative space on the fourth floor–including a space for hoteling offices for LSC-based faculty and staff, student collaboration, and the first home for the School’s Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurism.

Our overall goal is to better connect our campuses and school community for even greater educational and scholarship impact. In other words, this is the first step in modeling the way to creating interactive, collaborative spaces required to address urgent, complex health issues, through cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approaches. 

What You Need to Know

  • Work will occur on all floors of the building, in stages, during the hours of 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily
  • Construction teams will do their best to minimize noise, though expect to hear it 
  • For the fourth floor specifically:
    • Use the north entrance (adjacent to the elevators) to enter/exit the administrative suite
    • All fourth floor restrooms will be offline for the duration of the project; please use restrooms on the third floor  
    • Access to the School of Nursing via the fourth floor will be blocked  
    • Temporary drywall partitions will be constructed, enclosing the atrium to prevent dust from traveling throughout the building 
  • The renovation includes installing security turnstiles (in the late August/September timeframe) 
  • The entrance to the cafeteria will be moved to the hallway so that individuals can access the cafeteria directly, without entering the building

Thank you, in advance, for your patience during this project. I will share progress on major milestones as we reach them and I look forward to building this next chapter with all of you.   

In anticipation,

Dean Elaine