The multimillion dollar campaign to bring a school of pharmacy to San Antonio has taken shape over the past year.  Just as the dean, faculty, and pre-pharmacy students are in place and working hard, McChesney Architects have also been working diligently on the building.

With a seven-figure gift from John and Rita Feik, large donations from the Brackenridge foundation, and contributions from other friends of the University, plans for the state of the art facility are well underway.

The 56,000 sq.ft., 5 story building will be located at the corner of Hildebrand and Devine just west of the main UIW campus.  The exterior of the building is deliberately designed to be aesthetically compatible with the surrounding area.  The structure takes advantage of the natural sloping terrain by placing the parking garage below grade and out of the line of sight.  The architects are committed to preserving 98% of the trees on the property.

 

Visitors will be received in the lobby that houses a pharmacy museum compiled by Billy Walker.  Just beyond is the multistory atrium and stairway to the upper floors.  Directly off the atrium to the right is access to a state-of-the-art, 100 seat teleconference center that will serve as a venue for conferences, meetings, and other community events.

To accommodate prospective students and parents, the student services complex is just to the left of the atrium.  Comfortable, private, offices for faculty and staff are provided in the left wing of the first floor.

The right wing of the first floor houses smaller classrooms and several computer laboratories.  Student activities—lounge, offices for organizations, refreshment center—are also located in this part of the building.  The multi-station drug information center and the library are located in the rear of the building.  Wonderful pieces depicting the advent of pharmacy in Texas and Mexico will be displayed throughout the first floor of the building.

The second floor of the building contains classrooms that facilitate the delivery of instruction through numerous modalities, including small group discussion.  Each 103 seat classroom has its own set of 6-8 breakout rooms.  The laboratories are designed for maximum flexibility of teaching, learning, and research.

The purpose-driven pharmaceutical care laboratory will provide opportunities for multidiscipline teaching of pharmacy students.  It will also allow the school to offer individualized pharmaceutical care to the community on a referral basis. The pleasant, private environment will enhance the patient consultation experience.

The School of Pharmacy is preparing for a class of 84 students in fall 2006.  By 2009 the school expects to have approximately 400 pharmacy students, 150 pre-pharmacy students, 40 faculty, and 12 staff members.

Groundbreaking for the new facility occurred in May 2006, with completion projected for 2007.

Arcelia Johnson-Fannin

Founding Dean and Professor