University of Florida veterinary college expands facilities to accommodate growing pains

Almost a decade after opening its award-winning small animal hospital, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has expanded its facilities to better train its veterinary students to meet professional demands and to accommodate the rapid growth of the hospital’s emergency and critical care service.

Construction of the $6 million, two-story addition adjacent to the main hospital wrapped up in February and will provide more spacious accommodations for primary care and dentistry services, as well as additional offices for administrative personnel. The expansion adds approximately 12,000 square feet to the existing 100,000-square-foot building, and makes room for more emergency and critical care services.

Since the small animal hospital opened in 2010, clients of the primary care and dentistry service have shared an entrance and lobby with emergency clients. The renovation separates these distinct areas of care and patient needs.

The original ground-floor space is being remodeled for efficiency and expanded emergency and critical care services to better accommodate emergency referrals from local and statewide veterinary clinicians and agencies. Pet patients, once stabilized, also can be seamlessly transferred to primary care as needed.

An open house for college faculty, staff and students was held Feb. 22, with a reception and open house for donors. The new building opens its doors to clients on March 15.

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is supported through funding from UF Health and the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.