A state board has recommended spending $212,000 to design extra classroom and office space for a proposed health sciences building at Riverpoint Higher Education Park in Spokane.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board voted on the issue Wednesday in Olympia.

Pending approval by the Legislature next year, the money would cover architectural work for an additional 13,000 square feet in a proposed 120,000-square-foot building.

Construction of the $28 million health sciences building could begin as early as July 1999, with completion in December 2000.

It would house dental hygiene, physical therapy, pharmacy, communications disorders and other programs offered by Eastern Washington University and Washington State University. At least 40 teachers would have offices there.

The HEC Board’s action replaces an earlier proposal to speed up the start of designing a separate classroom building at the park.

, DataTimes