AU and community celebrate new parking deck on Health Sciences Campus

A parking deck opening isn’t usually synonymous with a party, but with refreshments on a 70-degree February day and songs like “Parking Lot Party” ringing out from the speakers, the atmosphere was certainly celebratory. 

Augusta University recently celebrated the completion of a new parking deck, a project that had been years in the making. During the unveiling, President Russell T. Keen and First Lady Karen Keen acknowledged the efforts of those who laid the groundwork for the project’s success.

Those collective efforts include former AU President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, whose passion and dedication to expanding parking on campus, helped pave the way for its eventual realization; AU’s Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Business Officer Yvonne Turner and her team, whose tireless efforts ensured the parking deck was completed two months ahead of schedule; and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and the AU Real Estate Foundation for their continued support of students, faculty and staff.

“This parking deck is something our students, faculty and staff have been waiting a long time for. We are beneficiaries of support from our local community and our state. Augusta University is growing, and it’s a worthy investment,” Keen noted. “The message for our community is thank you for continuing to invest in us. This is just another example of the progress we’re making at Augusta University and in our community to make lives and livelihoods better for all of our citizens in Georgia.” 

The $36 million project includes 1,350 new spaces, doubling parking on the Health Sciences Campus. It is a game-changer for students, staff and faculty on a campus that is bustling and thriving, thus outgrowing the previously available parking. When including the perimeter lots, this new parking deck increases total parking capacity by 50%. The deck also helps create a more pedestrian-friendly campus and expands the footprint of AU’s Health Sciences Campus in the community. There are electric vehicle charging stations located throughout, with entry and exit access on campus and onto Wrightsboro Road.

Students at the ribbon-cutting shared in the excitement of the long-awaited deck opening for parking. Having more parking options available makes it easier for them to get to class and alleviates some of the stress AU faculty and staff face in their daily commute.  

AU Staff Council Chairman Rich Rogers recalled his time working on the Health Sciences Campus and the challenging daily task of finding a parking spot.

“Back then we would say, ‘Maybe someday there will be more parking.’ Well, today is that day, and we are here,” said Rogers. “This deck is certainly a giant step in the right direction.”