While most UA students will spend their winter break relaxing, employees at Campus Health will be packing.
"We are boxing as we speak," said Theresa West, administrative associate for Campus Health Services.
Over the next month, Campus Health will be moving to their newly constructed offices at 1224 E. Lowell St., near North Highland Avenue and East Sixth Street.
Some employees expressed a tinge of sadness because they are moving out of offices they have occupied for years.
"It has been pretty positive," West said about the move scheduled for Dec. 29, 30 and 31. "But, there is some definite sadness."
While some employees may be sad about leaving their current location on the UA Mall that has housed Campus Health since 1936, West said everyone is excited about moving into larger offices.
"We will have a better location," she said. "We absolutely needed more room, and we will have it."
Campus Health will be occupying the Highland Commons, an 85,000 sq. ft., $19 million project that will also provide new offices for the Disability Resource Center and Health Promotion and Preventive Services, said Melissa Dryden, program coordinator for Facilities Design and Construction.
Almost 10 years ago, Health Promotion and Preventive Services moved to the Campus Health building from the Old Main, said Carolyn Collins, director of the Health Promotion and Preventive Services.
"There wasn't enough room anymore," she said about the space in the Old Main. "Everyone is really jazzed about the move."
Collins said she is also looking forward to rejoining her Campus Health colleagues in the new location.
"I think being back together will be great and beneficial," she said. "The consolidation will make things much easier."
Though she is excited about the move, Collins said she will miss the central location of the Campus Health building.
"This has been a wonderful building," she said. "I will miss the aspect of being central to campus. I'll miss that a lot."
Alexis Hammack, a journalism junior, said she is also not happy about the relocation.
"I think the distance will upset some students," she said. "It is too far away."
West said she doesn't feel students will be upset, because the Highland Commons location is also home to several residence halls, including the newly opened Villa del Puente.
"It will be a better location," West said. "Once all of the new dorms are finished we will be a midpoint of campus."
Campus Health Services will reopen the doors of its new offices on Jan. 2, 2004, West said.
Lunar and Planetary Laboratories are planning to move some staff and faculty into the present-day location of Campus Health, said Joan Weinberg, manager of academic affairs for the laboratories.
Weinberg said he hopes to be moved into the new location by March.
"As soon as the university approves all of the funds and the remodeling is completed, we will move in," Weinberg said.