Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Charles R. Drew University Opens Health Professions Education Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/06/26

Key Takeaways

  • Charles R. Drew University opened its new 60,000-square-foot Health Professions Education Building, which houses the College of Medicine and serves students across all three academic colleges.
  • The facility features simulation spaces, anatomy laboratories, technology-enabled classrooms and collaborative learning environments designed to support interdisciplinary healthcare education.
  • Supported in part by a $50 million state investment, the project is expected to create 749 local jobs and generate more than $86.8 million in annual economic impact while expanding physician training in South Los Angeles.

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) has officially opened its new Health Professions Education Building (HPEB) in South Los Angeles, according to a news release. University leaders celebrated the completion of the four-story, 60,000-square-foot facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11, held alongside the College of Medicine's White Coat Ceremony for its newest class of medical students.

The Health Professions Education Building will serve as the permanent home of CDU's College of Medicine while providing instructional space for students across the university's three colleges. The facility includes technology-enabled classrooms, anatomy laboratories, clinical simulation spaces and collaborative learning environments designed to support interdisciplinary education and hands-on training for future healthcare professionals.

Construction on the building began in 2024 and reached several milestones before opening, including a topping-off ceremony in 2025 and completion of major interior and infrastructure work earlier this year. Funded in part through a $50 million investment from the State of California, the project is expected to generate 749 local jobs and contribute more than $86.8 million annually in direct and indirect economic impact to the Watts-Willowbrook community.

The ribbon cutting also reflects CDU's continued expansion of its four-year Doctor of Medicine program. With the addition of the incoming class recognized during the White Coat Ceremony, enrollment in the program now totals 240 students. University officials said the new facility will strengthen CDU's mission of preparing physicians and healthcare professionals to serve historically underserved communities while supporting the institution's broader commitment to health equity. The opening coincides with CDU's 60th anniversary, underscoring the university's continued investment in educational infrastructure and community-focused healthcare training.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • Planning with Clarity: Using AI to Make Better Campus Decisions, Not Just Better Designs

    Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly high-stakes decisions about campus facilities amid greater uncertainty than ever before. Social and economic pressures, shifting enrollment, and evolving learning models compete with growing deferred maintenance needs to strain even the most robust infrastructure budgets.