A FRESH LOOK: New Addition and Building Renovations are on Track

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Construction crews have been busy during the last several months on the campus of Northwestern Health Sciences University. Extensive renovations have been completed on the cafeteria and foyer and construction is progressing rapidly on a new 48,000-square-foot addition, the Wolfe-Harris Center for Excellence.

“We have made numerous updates to the cafeteria,” said Kevin Wolpern, director of the physical plant at Northwestern. “These include adding can lighting, a fire sprinkler in the main kitchen and ceiling fans. There is also a new ceiling, paint on the walls, a built-in video screen, wall tile and ceiling lights over the food line. We kept the same floor because it is the terazzo and it lasts forever.”

The cafeteria is almost completed. The additions that remain include a chandelier, an awning over the entrance and a neon “Monte’s Grill” sign to be placed outside of the cafeteria. The cafeteria’s new name is in recognition of the long-standing support of Northwestern by Monte Greenawalt, DC, founder of Foot Levelers, Inc.

Wolpern added that the renovations in the foyer include a fire sprinkler, new lights on the ceiling, and upgraded skylights.

The new building is also on schedule. “The steel support beams are in and the first floor was up by the end of September,” said Jim McDonald, MBA, vice president of administrative services. “Our goal is to have the new building enclosed by mid-December and ready for use September 2008.”

The new building will be three floors and will house the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies, the Greenawalt Library, the Integrity Management Student, Alumni and Career Services Center, and administrative offices.

Other recent renovations include removing the old fuel tanks and installing a new fuel tank near the new loading dock; and newly added ready-to-use volleyball courts.

Northwestern Health Sciences University offers a wide array of choices in natural health care education including chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, human biology, and integrative health and wellness. The University has 900 full-time students on a 25-acre campus in Bloomington, Minn.