Westminster University’s newest addition to campus, the L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center building, located next to Dolores Dore Eccles Ceramic Center, held its grand opening last Saturday.
The Wellness Center houses Student Health Services, Mental Health Counseling Center, and Center for Financial Wellness.
L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center aims to aid students in fulfilling the seven pillars of wellness– social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, environmental, and financial, according to Tanner Hutchins, director of student health services and family nurse practitioner.
“It is going to provide the Westminster Community [with] many more opportunities to focus on their health and wellbeing when they are able to participate in programs and services happening in Skaggs,” said Traci Siriprathane, assistant dean of students and director of fitness, wellness, and recreation.
Student Health Services is just one of the services to relocate from the basement of Shaw Student Center to L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center. Faculty, staff, and students all have an opportunity to navigate this new space.
“This building is allowing us to expand our services,” said Hutchins. “We were in a small, little closet [in the basement of Shaw Student Center, and] it was rough. Now we have three exam rooms. Each student has access to a care plan that addresses all those elements of wellness.”
One student noted that the new location could change how students interact with their services.
“We’ve already seen a lot more patients,” said Ashley Cabrera, a junior nursing major and student receptionist at Student Health Services. “[This new building] is a lot more accessible to students rather than the basement of Shaw.”
The building has two floors, is filled with natural light from the expansive windows, has exposed timber, and integrates both indoor and outdoor space within the overall design. The center also contains a state-of-the-art kitchen, according to President Beth Dobkin.
“I heard nothing but positive comments from guests,” said Siriprathane. “How they loved all the spaces, how beautiful of a building it is, and how it is so wonderful that the Westminster Community has a building like this on campus.”
Wellness Activity Center room 105 is available for students to reserve for yoga, mat pilates, and more. This room will also hold sound baths and tai chi classes. Any events in the new building will be posted on the campus calendar with details.
“[It’s] a space where anybody can go at any time and just have a little moment of mindfulness,” said Laura Iverson, assistant director of fitness wellness and recreation. Iverson said she helped assess the need for and design of the new building.
Iverson will be holding a Griffin gourmet cooking class in the L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center, open to the public, on Friday, Sept 20 at 3 p.m.
Correction: This article has been updated to correct the title of the building.
