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

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

Digital Edition