Demolition will begin today on 12 buildings on the UConn Health Center's lower campus in order to make way for construction of the Jackson Laboratories facility.
The work is a step forward for Bioscience Connecticut, an $864 million plan authored by Gov. Dannel Malloy and supported by Farmington officials, that aims to turn the struggling health center into an economic engine, adding jobs, attracting top research talent and placing Connecticut at the center of personalized medicine.
The offices in those buildings will be relocated and groundbreaking on the Jackson Laboratories building is expected in January. The Ambulatory Care Center will also be built on the health center's lower campus, adjacent to the existing Medical Arts and Research Building. The Ambulatory Care Center will eventually house primary care, specialty and surgical offices, many of which were located in the Dowling buildings on the lower campus. A new parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be constructed nearby.
According to the UConn Health Center website, the Ambulatory Care Center, Jackson Labs and the Administrative Services Building, which Jackson Labs is already leasing and will eventually house a geriatric research facility will be connected by a walkway and enclosed bridge.
The work will be preceded by brief remarks from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, University President Susan Herbst, Health Center Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. Frank Torti, and Jackson Lab Vice President for Advancement Mike Hyde.
