This fall, after nearly a year and a half of construction, the Vivian A. Kao Health & Counseling Center officially opened its new location by the Science Center, replacing its former home in the Simpson buildings. 

   The $13 million, 12,000-square-foot facility brings Health Services and Counseling Services together under one roof for the first time in the College’s history.

    The new structure is an all-electric, mass-timber building. Its first floor houses Health Services, including six exam rooms and offices, while the second floor contains 13 counseling rooms and a large group space. 

     The building maintains a public-facing entrance on the east side, but it also offers secondary hallways, a back entrance, and even dedicated routes for emergency transfers. This intentional design prioritizes privacy and helps minimize the discomfort students previously faced when having to move through public spaces to transition between services.

   “Even as mental health became a bigger priority, students still had to walk through public spaces to get to counseling, which was really challenging,” Alvin Hung, Assistant Director of Design and Construction, said. “In the new building, we were able to add secondary hallways, a back entrance, and other privacy features, which we never could have achieved by simply renovating the old facilities.”

   Administrators described the new facility as a turning point in how Wellesley organizes care, but students are also beginning to experience those changes firsthand. 

   For returning students, the shift was clear. Ryan Tsion ’28 was struck not only by the welcoming atmosphere, but also the larger staff presence. 

   She recalled that “the max I ever saw was about six people” working in the old setup. Visiting the Kao Center for the first time, she described that there were “a lot more people around.” 

   At the Counseling Services open house earlier this month, first-years noted the difference in atmosphere compared to traditional health facilities. Harini Venkatesh ’29 said she was “surprised” by how bright and open the building felt. Lana Richard ’29 added that the lounge areas and natural light made the space “feel welcoming, not clinical.”

   Beyond aesthetics, administrators hope the centralized services will expand access to health and counseling services. Counseling now has room for an additional provider, and exam rooms were built slightly larger to allow for potential physical therapy services in the future. 

   “The demand for mental health services isn’t going down,” Hung said. “We built in buffer space so we can keep up with students’ needs.”

The legacy of Simpson Hall

   While Health Services once operated on the first floor of Simpson Hall, and Counseling Services occupied nearly three floors of the neighboring Simpson Cottage, the separation often led to what staff described as fragmented care. Students who sought physical health services were frequently referred to counseling and vice versa, requiring them to move between two dated buildings.

   “The synergy between Health and Counseling was the main driver for co-locating them,” said Hung. “Right now, the demand for mental health counseling is high, and it’s not isolated—you have Health [Services] just right underneath. Both directors talk to each other more often … and they talk about certain students who need care from both.”

   With the decision to build a new health and counseling center, administrators also had to determine the future of the Simpson buildings. The demolition of Simpson Hall was largely unopposed. Built in 1941 as a brick addition to Simpson Cottage, it lacked architectural significance and posed challenges for accessibility and modernization. 

   By contrast, Simpson Cottage, built in 1881, is one of the oldest structures on campus and was preserved during construction. Removing the later addition, administrators noted, created an opportunity to restore the historic cottage. Rather than pouring an entirely new base, the College chose to reuse more than 80 percent of Simpson Hall’s original foundation in the restoration process. 

   “That’s a very challenging approach, knowing many things can happen. You could damage the foundation … There are also a lot of things that can go wrong when you try to keep the existing structure,” said Hung. “But on the other hand, we know our community—we go above and beyond.”

   Through the intentionally comforting design and expanded efficiency of care, students look forward to utilizing the space.

   “Wellesley really put thought into creating a space where students would feel comfortable and supported,” Venkatesh said. “I’m excited to come back here [over] the next four years.”

Contact the editor responsible for this story: Jessica Chen