A ground-breaking ceremony was held on October 23, 2023 to signal the start of the third and final phase of construction for Faulkner University’s College of Health Sciences thanks to the generous donors who raised nearly $3.6 million.
Along with Faulkner leadership and the students, faculty and staff of the College of Health Sciences, special honored guests representing the county, city, state and others were present to take part in the ceremony. Those who came to show their support for the continued growth of the College of Health Sciences included:
Phillip Ensler, Alabama State Representative
Ed Grimes, Montgomery City Council
Dale Kirkland, Chairman Board of Trustees
Warren Marshall, Marshal Design-Build
Lisha Harrison May, Harrison Family
Chris Newell, Newell Roadbuilders
Jamyla Philyaw, Montgomery Mayor’s Office
Sydney Rhine, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce
Leslie Sanders, Alabama Power/Southern Company
Doug Singleton, Montgomery County Commission
The Snook Foundation
J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner, Alabama State Senator
“Faulkner is doing amazing things for our city, our community and our district,” said Ed Grimes following the ceremony. “Faulkner is breathing new life into these retail buildings in a major way, not to mention the great things that are being done inside in the way of healthcare for our community.”
The final phase will include a complete “brick and mortar” facelift of the college building itself, a reworking and landscaping of the parking area and the addition of a bridge that will connect the main campus with the east campus, where the College of Health Sciences is located.
Preliminary planning and construction permits have been completed, approval has been granted from the Department of Public Health and construction is scheduled to begin.
The reworking of the parking area and front entrance will include a concourse and a porte-cochere, or carport area, directly in front of the building so patients can enter the free therapy clinic with ease and be shielded from the elements. The concourse will connect to the bridge, which will cross the drainage channel near the Faulkner Law building and end at the Rotunda. The plan for the bridge currently consists of two lanes for pedestrian traffic and an eight-foot sidewalk, wide enough for a golf cart.
“Artistic renderings reflect the updated façade will match the collegiate and professional styles of the buildings on the main campus,” President Mitch Henry explained.
“The overall project, plus the addition of the bridge and concourse will make for an overall aesthetically pleasing look that will attract students and be consistent with the high-quality of education and clinical services being provided within,” Henry said. “This is a building we expect to last for many years and provide a meaningful and positive impact on healthcare needs for our citizens, in particular those with special needs. We believe the investment we have made in the College of Health Sciences is a worthwhile investment, and so we want it to have more of a welcoming and professional appearance and less retail.”
Completion of construction will take up to a year. Construction of the bridge will begin closer to January 2024 to be completed by April 2024.
Marshall Design-Build LLC, which was responsible for the construction and completion of the prior two phases, will continue their work to complete the final phase. The bridge portion of the plan will be constructed by Newell Road Builders, Inc. out of Hope Hull, Alabama.
While construction is underway, classes will continue as normal. Marshall Design has assured that every effort and precaution will be taken to maintain the safety of students, staff, faculty and patients. In so doing, construction will be performed in stages to impact the fewest people.
The College of Health Sciences health clinic will continue to provide services during this time as well. Beginning October 1st, the clinic is now able to provide services in both speech language pathology along with occupational therapy to both adults and children.