By Kolby R. LaMarche

The University of Vermont Board of Trustees unanimously approved the design and funding for a new Center for Health and Wellbeing (CHWB) building at its annual May meeting. 

The 14,000-square-foot, fully accessible, single-level medical clinic will replace the existing 6,000-square-foot University Health Center Rehab Wing, addressing space constraints and enhancing student health services, the University says.

Located on the Redstone campus, the new facility will be accessible off the road between Redstone Lodge and Blundell House, within walking distance for most on-campus students. 

The clinic will feature 17 exam rooms, a lab, phlebotomy space, a physical therapy clinic, and areas for a dietician, health coach, and behavioral health services. It will also include shared and individual staff offices, restrooms, a waiting room, and a conference room, designed to meet Facilities Guidelines Institute standards for outpatient facilities based on UVM’s student population.

Full-time UVM students (12+ credits) pay a Health Fee, part of their tuition, to use the Center for Health and Wellbeing. Part-time students (9-11 credits) or those with UVM’s insurance plan also pay; others with fewer credits can choose to. 

The University says it aims to integrate medical and mental health services, addressing service fragmentation—a key barrier to care identified through student feedback. By consolidating services, the clinic will improve access, support complex health needs, and promote holistic student wellbeing, fostering retention and academic success.

Adjacent to 322 South Prospect Street, a repurposed university building set to house CHWB Counseling and Psychiatry Services later this year, the new clinic will centralize previously “scattered” services. “This is a necessary step toward ensuring UVM’s infrastructure reflects the needs of students now and in the future,” said CHWB Director Blake Reilly.

The $16.5 million project will be funded with $10 million from Student Affairs facilities reserves and a $6.5 million loan from central reserves, as approved by the Board’s Budget, Finance, and Investment Committee. With planning and permitting underway, groundbreaking is targeted for summer 2026.