A small structure with a big impact
July 7, 2023
UVA teams collaborate to support employee at UVA Orthopedic Center Ivy Road
The UVA Orthopedic Center Ivy Road (OCIR) recently unveiled a new parking booth at the entrance of its garage. Members of the OCIR team gathered to surprise the building's parking attendant, Becky Padgett, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reveal the new structure. The booth is also symbolic of UVA's continuous dedication to improve conditions for all employees, regardless of rank.
The original design of the garage called for gated access without parking staff, according to Capital Construction & Renovations Project Director Mashal Hartman. But that plan was changed once all the clinics, Imaging, and PT/OT opened in 2022. Parking attendant Becky Padgett was hired to better assist with the flow of traffic.
“She's an amazing employee,” said Dr. Bobby Chhabra, chair of UVA Orthopedic Surgery. “She is often the first contact with patients and visitors, and is unfailingly helpful and cheerful, regardless of weather. She's worn four layers of clothing in the winter, and we used three fans to keep her cool in the summer, yet she never complained.”
In early June, Padgett was surprised by the team when she returned from her break to a group gathered around the new structure. Together, Padgett and Chhabra cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the booth.
“You'd think it would be so easy to build a small structure like this,” said Hartman. “But we had many people involved, in both design and construction, of this booth. Mark Flynn, project coordinator from CC&R, really shepherded the project to a very successful completion. Despite the tiny size of the project, it was important to Dr. Chhabra, and several others in leadership at UVA Health, including Kevin Fox and Vickie Marsh.”
Padgett said she was extremely appreciative of the new booth, which will better protect her from weather, and was especially delighted to see a new sign on the exterior noting the booth is “Becky's Place.”
See photos of the UVA Orthopedic Center Ivy Road parking booth ribbon-cutting.
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu