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Dear ¹ú²úºÚÁÏU Community,

We are pleased to share an update regarding university capital-development opportunities that will affect every college and will positively impact both the academic and clinical mission. Each college is confronted with an unprecedented opportunity for significant growth and forward momentum.

The project that is currently underway focuses on the expansion of our academic and clinical footprint. The proposed expansion will directly address the increasing academic space needs across all colleges and will offer a unique opportunity to expand the institutional academic and clinical band width. The proposed major project will include a significant initiative to reimagine existing space and acquire new assets for capital-development and expansion that will directly meet the immediate needs of all the colleges and programs.

Specifically, the College of Dental Medicine (CDM) is experiencing a period of significant growth and forward momentum. With the recent increase in class size and ongoing demand for high-quality clinical education, we are taking active steps to expand the clinical footprint in support of our students, faculty, and patients.

As part of our strategic expansion, CDM will move forward with plans to add 49 new operatories. While this larger project will unfold over time, the Division of Institutional Shared Services (ISS) is implementing an immediate, short-term solution to address our most pressing space needs: the installation of 8 new operatories within the current Patient Care Center (PCC).

To accommodate this initial phase, a portion of the space currently occupied by our Clinical Research team will be repurposed. The team will be temporarily relocated to a comparable area on the first floor of the Optometry suite, ensuring continuity of their important work while we prepare the operatory space.

We recognize that this transition may bring some short-term adjustments, and we want to extend our sincere appreciation to all involved, especially the Clinical Research team, for their flexibility, collaboration, and commitment to the greater mission of the University.

In the long-term, we wish to establish a new and state-of-the-art future Patient Care Center (>50,000 ft2), the location of which would utilize existing highly valued available space, (e.g. Administration and Advancement Center, former Bookstore, etc.), and which would house a new Institute of Clinical and Translational Research. Moreover, our intent is to acquire land assets which will provide opportunity for further expansion of the academic and clinical short-term and long-term needs.

To ensure transparency and engagement throughout this process, we will continue to host regular status update meetings and maintain open lines of communication. We value your input and welcome your feedback as we navigate each step of this expansion together.

Estimated Project Timeline

(Note: Dates are subject to change based on permitting, construction lead times, contract processing, and contractor availability.)

Phase 1- Preparations and Relocation

• Early July 2025: Begin light renovations on the temporary Clinical Research space (Optometry suite, 1st floor)
  • Target completion: 1-2 months

• PCC 2nd Floor: Equipment cleanout and relocation to designated storage (~2 weeks)

Phase 2- Construction and Buildout

• Contractor Engagement: Demolition begins upon finalization of contract
• Legal Review: ~4 weeks
• Engineering: ~6 to 8 weeks
• Permitting: ~6 to 12 weeks (city plan checks and approvals)
• Construction Duration: ~4 to 5 months following permit approval
• Final Step: City issues Certificate of Occupancy

Estimated Project Completion: March/April 2026

This expansion reflects our shared commitment to providing top-tier clinical education and care, and it represents an important investment in the future of CDM and the broader ¹ú²úºÚÁÏU community.

Questions?

For questions or inquiries about this exciting update, please contact the Division of Institutional Shared Services at: ISS@westernu.edu.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we take this meaningful step forward together.

Warmest Regards,
Robin