Oregon State University, Health Center
Making health and wellness accessible to all
- Client
- Oregon State University
- Location
- Oregon, United States
- Size
- 25,000 square feet
- Status
- Completed
As the demand for comprehensive health and wellness services on college campuses continues to grow, institutions are recognizing the critical importance of providing robust, accessible healthcare for students. Addressing both physical and mental health needs is essential for fostering a supportive and productive academic environment. Oregon State University (OSU) is meeting this challenge head-on with the introduction of a state-of-the-art outpatient clinic.
The new outpatient clinic provides year-round health and wellness services, including primary care, counseling and lab services. OSU is also leasing a portion of the building to community health partner, Samaritan Health Services, which offers primary care and urgent care services to faculty, staff and the broader Corvallis community.
Supporting students holistically
To better support students who may be navigating the healthcare system on their own for the first time, the clinic provides modernized spaces and employs a patient-centered care model. This comprehensive approach covers everything from primary care and birth control to travel immunizations and mental health counseling. Unlike many clinics, this facility has a primary care clinician who can coordinate various services during a single visit. This includes adding a nurse visit, scheduling a vaccination, arranging a mental health session, or even administering IV fluids under medical supervision.
Designing for efficiency and collaboration
The operating model of the clinic is a flexible, need-based space assignment rather than assigning exam rooms to specific practitioners, some of whom are part-time. This means that clinicians are assigned the exam rooms they need to support their workload on a day-to-day basis. Moving to this model contributed to a 37% square footage reduction over the original space request, while still including a full floor of the facility to be leased by a community health provider.
The design features a multi-function staff space along the street front that supports collaboration between clinicians—including primary care physicians, OB/GYN physicians, nurse practitioners and mental health professionals. A central break room also provides integration between all student health and community practice providers within the facility.
Our strategic approach to space planning contributed to a 37% square footage reduction over the original space request.
The Health Center's proximity to OSU's Reser Stadium, designed in association with Populus, underscores the university's dedication to holistic wellness. This strategic location encourages students, athletes, and staff to prioritize their health, fostering a campus culture where well-being is integral to the university experience and reinforcing the crucial mind-body connection.
