Augusta University held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Health Sciences campus, Monday morning, commemorating the beginning of construction of its new student parking deck.
University President Brooks Keel, faculty and staff gathered at a burgeoning construction site at 840 Spellman St., near the Dental College of Georgia and the Elm Hall student housing complex, to launch the building project after several years of planning.
“This momentous occasion signifies progress, growth and a commitment to enhancing the overall campus experience for everyone who calls our university home,” said Yvonne Turner, chief business officer at AU. “As our institution continues to flourish, so does the need for modern and efficient facilities that support the diverse needs of our students, faculty and staff.”
The six-story facility of more than 400,000 square feet will be able to accommodate provide some 1,350 vehicles at once, and will also have electric vehicle charging stations.
Destiny Barrett, a junior cybersecurity major at AU, spoke during the ceremony, saying the project is a “sign that Augusta University both hears and cares about us.” She noted that the new parking deck will bring both convenience and a greater sense of security, as currently many students have to between the education buildings and the residence halls at night.
“We always knew that we needed it,” she said. “So hearing that it’s happening is really exciting for us.”
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Planning for the construction project began in 2018, with demonstrating student and employee interest to the University System of Georgia. Dale Hartenburg, AU’s assistant vice president chief auxiliary officer, said establishing demand was not difficult, observing that planners had been talking about new parking deck since at least 2005.
“We had some parameters given to us by the system office, to make the funding work within our existing structure that we already use, for charges to employees and charges to students,” explained Hartenburg. “We got all that settled, and then obviously COVID came in, and we got delayed for about 24 months.”
The interruption by the pandemic prompted restarts, but didn’t stop planning for what was ultimately a $33 million project, drawn from current and future departmental funds, Hartenburg said.
Construction of the new parking deck is scheduled to be complete by March of 2025.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
