University of Southern Indiana

The College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana graduates more students annually than any other college on campus. With continued foreseeable growth, the university wanted to offer spaces that are as high quality as the education provided there. This is the fourth and largest phased project stemming from a master plan for the entire Health Professions Center. It includes a significant new addition and completes the building’s renovation that began in 2015.

The Health Professions Center is situated at the forefront of campus, welcoming all who arrive. The school desired the creation of a “front porch” and a “wow” moment since this is the first building everyone experiences once they arrive on campus. The challenge was to do this while complementing the existing building built in the early 1990s. To achieve this, limestone matching the original building’s façade was applied to the new addition’s exterior surface to visually link the new to the old. Through the introduction of large, glass windows; a gradient pattern of colored, metal panels; perforated, metal sunshades; and a grand canopy signifying the building’s new entry, the addition creates the desired “wow” moment for both students and visitors. Just outside the building, students and staff can enjoy the outdoors on the new plaza, which is an extension of the new student lounge located directly adjacent to the new addition.

Inside the addition is a 250-seat auditorium that is an interactive classroom, offering state-of-the-art technology and acoustics. Nine monitors are dispersed throughout the room, offering a better view to those seated in the back of the space. With today’s teaching techniques, flexibility and collaboration were large drivers for the seating design. Staff and students are able to group together and work with ease, unlike traditional lecture halls.

The second floor of the addition features newly equipped nursing skills labs, integrating advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment to give future nurses practical, hands-on training in patient care. These labs continue into the renovated areas of the second floor where two, new respiratory therapy labs provide students with the opportunity to practice essential skills, such as ventilator management, airway clearance techniques and cardiopulmonary assessment. Additionally, a pulmonary function testing lab allows students to perform a range of tests that assess lung function. The renovation also includes two classrooms dedicated to the occupational therapy assistant program, featuring specialized therapeutic equipment and adaptive tools.

Student-centric spaces were paramount to the renovation’s design, supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing since many students spend a considerable amount of time in the building every single day. Student lounges were interspersed throughout the building and designed with varying levels of privacy to accommodate silent study, student study groups, and more casual hangouts. A market was also included to offer students a quick bite without the inconvenience of leaving the building.

When complete, this project will act as a welcoming front door for the university and will be a beacon of knowledge, innovation and opportunity for future staff and students.