Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Pennsylvania University to Build New Facility for OT, PT Programs

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/18/23

Misericordia University in Dallas, Penn., recently announced the beginning of a renovation and construction project for its Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) programs, according to university news. The 38,000-square-foot facility will reside within a renovated section of the Mercy Center next to campus, for which the university recently acquired a long-term lease. The news release reports that construction is scheduled for completion by December 2023 and will open to students in January 2024.

The new facility will include separate, individually designed spaces for both programs. Amenities will include observation rooms and las, lecture halls with interactive video technology, an acute care lab, a home health lab, student lounges and flexible study space, capstone centers, and administrative space.

“Our occupational and physical therapy programs have a long track record of preparing excellent clinical practitioners who care deeply about their patients,” said University President Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D. “This is a very special opportunity to utilize an existing building that is essentially on our campus to enhance both programs’ physical space. We appreciate the Sisters of Mercy working so closely with us on this opportunity following their decision to change the use of that facility.”

The OT spaces will occupy the first and second floors, while PT will take up the third floor. The university will also renovate the entrance and lobby area to establish it as a university space. The project will cost an estimated $8.5 million, according to university news.

“Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristics of our OT and PT programs, and what makes them the region’s premier programs, are the quality of our faculty and the quality of the student-faculty interactions, said Dean of the College of Health Science and Education Barbara Schwartz-Bechet, Ph.D. “We had adequate space before, but this upgrade will add needed space to facilitate those excellent, existing student-faculty interactions—as well as keep up with cutting-edge technology and the demands of delivering a premier program.”

The university’s OT and PT programs are currently based out of Passan Hall on campus. The university is currently reviewing options as to how to best utilize that space once the therapy programs move to their new home.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • 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.