University of La Verne Secures $8.5M in State Funding for Construction

The University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif., will receive $8.5 million in state funding to go toward the construction of a new facility for the College of Health and Community Well-Being in Ontario, Calif., according to a news release. The funds were part of Senator Susan Rubio’s 2023–24 budget for District 22 and were approved last week by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024.

“I am thrilled to be able to bring resources to help students reach their academic and professional goals,” said Rubio. “Not only will it generate good-paying jobs to construct the new college, it will also train the next generation of healthcare workers our community desperately needs.”

The facility will measure in at 60,000 square feet and stand two stories, according to the news release. Design features and amenities will include a daylit atrium, skills and simulation labs built to resemble real hospitals, technology upgrades in classrooms, research space, and collaboration areas. The College of Health and Community Well-Being is the university’s fifth academic college and opened on July 1, 2022. According to the university website, the college’s founding serves as a major facet of the university’s 2025 Strategic Vision.

“College programs serve as a catalyst to retain local talent, as well as expand healthcare and workforce opportunities in the region,” said University President Devorah Lieberman. “We are deeply appreciative of Senator Rubio’s support and advocacy for the university, especially as we create a space that will transform a historically underserved and under-resourced region within the district and beyond.”

According to the press release, the college was founded to help meet the growing need for healthcare professionals in the Inland Southern California region. The new facility will stand alongside the university’s College of Law and Public Service and the Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact to complete its “education and innovation corridor” within the region.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • abstract representation of hybrid learning environment

    The Permanence of Change: Why Hybrid Is the New Baseline

    Hybrid learning is here to stay, and it's reshaping how campus spaces function.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

Digital Edition