Brown plans residence hall, health center on Brook St.

BROWN UNIVERSITY plans to build a combined residence hall and health and wellness center on Brook Street. / COURTESY BROWN UNIVERSITY
BROWN UNIVERSITY plans to build a combined residence hall and health and wellness center on Brook Street. / COURTESY BROWN UNIVERSITY

PROVIDENCE — Brown University students use the campus’s health and wellness services 50,000 times a year, amenities the university plans to concentrate in a new, combination health and wellness center and residence hall at 450 Brook St.

The Corporation of Brown University began the process of selecting an architect for the project at its recent fall meeting, the university reported.

Brown would not disclose the anticipated budget for the project, telling PBN that it releases that information upon completion of projects. It also credited two donations for the project, one from the family of the late Duncan MacMillan and the other from Barry Sternlicht and Mimi Reichert Sternlicht, but would not reveal the donation amounts.

Vanessa Britto, the University’s assistant vice president for campus life and executive director of health and wellness, said the new center will include expanded space for clinical and health promotion activities — medical exam rooms, nursing stations, counseling and peer education offices — as well as opportunities to explore partnerships with faculty and community health providers. Early discussions about the center have also considered possibilities for health and wellness-focused amenities such as a test kitchen, a garden and spaces for activities such as meditation, yoga and Tai Chi.

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“Physical well-being is deeply interconnected with mental and emotional well-being,” Britto said. “Co-locating Health Services and CAPS in a modern and welcoming building will not only build our capacity to fully support students, but also provide a more seamless clinical experience.”

Eric Estes, Brown’s vice president for campus life, said the building’s residence hall will house more than 150 students who show a dedicated interest in health and wellness. The unique residential option will open new possibilities for peer education, outreach and community-building around health and wellness, as well as intriguing potential for collaboration among students, staff and faculty, he said.

“By bringing students together in a residential community, a leadership space will be created that will benefit the entire campus,” Estes said. “I envision that new ideas and a wide range of work on health and wellness-focused initiatives will emanate from a dedicated center and residence hall.”

The Brook Street site was approved by the Providence City Plan Commission in April 2018, according to the university.

Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.

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