The "Student Health Elevated" initiative at UGA entailed a $17 million expansion and renovation of its comprehensive student health facility, transforming it into one of the largest in the nation. MMA was engaged to explore alternative design solutions to address increasing demand and to reimagine the facility as a prominent gateway to East Campus. As part of the project, MMA developed detailed conceptual options and refined the space programming, correcting and enhancing work previously completed by another architect.

The University of Georgia Student Health Center is a $17 million student center, completed on time and on budget. 110,000 square foot comprehensive health services facility comprised of office-based, ambulatory and outpatient care environments and is JCAHO certified. According to Dr. Jean Chin, MD, MBA, Director: “MMA solved what we thought was an unsolvable problem.” MMA’s scope formulation, budgeting and programming accuracies yielded a final deviation of only 200 sf from the original conceptual phase program prepared by MMA.

MMA has set itself apart from all other design firms with its depth, breadth, and critique of evidence-based literature. As hospitals grow incrementally over time, healthcare needs, coupled with site limitations present new and unique challenges for every expansion. Many large hospital spaces are not designed or used as effectively as they could be.

Wayfinding clarity, discreet mental health and health promotion settings and built-in ability to expand are several hallmarks of the new design. New and improved fast track and emergent care functionality, security, quality control and error reduction objectives in key clinical settings were several core design prerequisites. Environments improve staff morale, utilization and efficiency, customer satisfaction and are great places to work. The Women’s Clinic Nurse Manager said it best: "The renovations are functionally perfect."