It's not only the thought of larger and sparkling new classrooms, laboratories, and clinical spaces that has Department Chair Eric Hunter excited about CSD's future home. He also eagerly anticipates new opportunities for CSD's faculty and students to expand their horizons in research and clinical endeavors.

"Working side-by-side with the Departments of Health and Human Physiology and Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science opens all kinds of possibilities," he said.  Professionally, speech-language pathologists and audiologists often work as part of a healthcare team that includes graduates from the other two departments, like recreational or physical therapists. It's exceptional, he added, that we'll be able to provide Iowa students with these types of collaborative experiences before entering the workplace.

On the research side, with this physical proximity, water cooler discussions will lead to creative and unique collaborations not possible at any other peer institution, Hunter said.

The groundbreaking ceremony provided a forum for the chairs of the three departments, UIowa President Barbara Wilson, and 100 other attendees to celebrate the westside, six-floor building, estimated to cost $249 million. Its completion date is set for April 2025. After CSD makes its move to the new facility, the existing Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center will be demolished, and a UIHC inpatient tower will be built in its place.

Called the Health Sciences Academic Building, the new facility is first to bring together the Carver College of Medicine and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“Imagine a place where you could get multiple services in one facility and not have to go to the hospital. That will be a game changer,”  Wilson remarked.