Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Finlandia U Plans Fall Opening of New Health Sciences Facility

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/08/20

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

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.