Finlandia U Plans Fall Opening of New Health Sciences Facility

A Michigan university is on track for finishing construction on a renovated campus building. Finlandia University's College of Health Sciences will be ready to receive students in fall 2020 in its new location, in spite of project delays due to a COVID-19 outbreak, according to the institution.

Finlandia's College of Health Sciences will be moving into a former high school, shown here pre-renovation. Source:  Finlandia University

The first three floors of the refurbished building will be used for state-of-the-art instructional and lab space for the school's physical therapist assistant and traditional nursing and online RN-BSN programs. A fourth-floor conversion remains under development.

In addition to the new learning spaces, the facility will have a new auditorium and multi-purpose room in the previous gymnasium, for hosting university events and intramurals.

The College of Health Sciences hopes to begin moving into the new space by August. Its previous space will be taken over by the university's new Center for Vocation and Career, which is also scheduled to open in 2020.

"We are very excited about the new educational spaces for our health science programs," said Fredi de Yampert, VP for academic affairs and dean of the College of Health Sciences/Nursing Department Chair, in a statement. "A new cohort model will be implemented, placing learning spaces and faculty offices within designated spaces, allowing for easy access for students and faculty."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.

  • Western Kentucky University, Gilbane Announce “Elevate WKU” Partnership

    Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., recently announced that it has reached the financial close on a on a public-private partnership (P3) with Gilbane Development, according to a news release.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.