CSU Moves Forward with New Medical Center

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State University (CSU) will move forward with plans to build a $59 million on-campus medical center.

The 113,000-square-foot building will house the CSU Health Network, which provides medical, mental health, and health education and prevention services to students. It will also offer public health care services provided by University of Colorado Health and Associates in Family Medicine, based in Fort Collins, including a walk-in clinic and occupational health services.

The medical center is also providing a new place to research aging and the educational and outreach programs that go along with it. The center will collaborate with Columbine Health Systems, also based in Fort Collins, to provide such research.

On Feb. 5, the CSU board of governors approved plans for the four-story medical center, which will be located on the northwest corner of College Avenue and Prospect Road. Construction could begin this fall, pending the board’s approval of the financial plan for the new facility, with the goal of completing the project in late 2016.

Bob and Kitty Wilson, owners of Columbine Health Systems, jumpstarted the project with a $5 million gift and UCHealth will contribute an additional $5 million. These gifts help cover construction costs, which also will be funded by revenues generated by the CSU Health Network and tenant lease payments.

“The new CSU Medical Center will serve as a prominent gateway to campus and will certainly become a significant asset to our students and the broader Fort Collins community,” CSU President Tony Frank said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the support of Columbine Health Systems and UCHealth, and the generosity of the Wilson family. Thanks to their vision, Colorado State will greatly enhance medical services we offer to campus, deepen our biological research capabilities and meet a clear community health care need.”

The new facility will consolidate the CSU Health Network in one location, providing students with access to comprehensive health care services in one place. Campus health services, including comprehensive medical and counseling facilities, are currently housed in two locations: Aylesworth Hall and the Hartshorn Health Services Building. Since they were built, the campus population has tripled, and the health care needs of students have changed dramatically. Demand for services already exceeds the physical capacity available at the current facilities. With a more efficient building design, providers could serve up to 40 percent more students.

“Our motto is care for the body and mind, and this new facility provides CSU Health Network with a physical design that supports and enhances our integrated approach to providing care to the whole student,” said Anne Hudgens, executive director of the CSU Health Network, in a statement. “The Health Network looks forward to continuing to serve as a health home for our growing student population, and we’re excited about collaborations that will be possible by being in close proximity to our partners in the building.”

All functions of the CSU Health Network would move to the new medical center, including medical care, mental health counseling, laboratory and pharmacy departments and a shared radiology department with UCHealth.

Professionals in family medicine will also offer primary care services at the new medical center and will operate a walk-in clinic that will feature extended and weekend hours.

What’s more, a partnership with Columbine Health Systems will help boost research on aging and establish a Center for Healthy Aging in coordination with several academic programs at CSU, primarily with the College of Health and Human Sciences, and also in partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Natural Sciences.