GALLERY: NKU breaks ground on Health Innovation Center
Northern Kentucky University broke ground on the Health Innovation Center fall of 2015.
Labs that simulate emergency situations will be classrooms for students in health professions, high-tech mannequins will serve as patients for real-world practice and innovative technology will help students secure health information.
Governor Steven L. Beshear and Northern Kentucky University President Geoffrey Mearns joined state officials and members of the community in the groundbreaking of the Health Innovation Center on Wednesday.
“Through this new learning center, NKU is helping us improve our education programs to prepare our young leaders for the increasingly high-tech jobs of the 21st century, and making Kentucky more competitive as companies seek out highly skilled, capable employees,” Gov. Beshear said. “Our future looks bright as we continue to partner with our higher education community to raise our education standards and rankings.”
The Health Innovation Center will be home to more than just health professions. The College of Informatics will also have a place in the new facility, as an important component of Health Informatics will be securing healthcare information.
Dr. Dale Scalise-Smith, dean of the College of Health Professions, said that students in the School of the Arts will also have a place in the facility, as creative arts therapy is a possible B.A. and M.A.
The Health Innovation Center will be connected to Founders Hall, which will be renovated during construction. The five-story facility will boast 95,492 square feet in addition to the 111,639 square feet available in Founders Hall.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky granted $97 million to fund the entire project, and St. Elizabeth gifted another $8 million towards the development of a two-story simulation center.
The Health Innovation Center is designed by CO Architects of Los Angeles and GBBN Architects of Cincinnati. Turner Construction of Cincinnati will serve as the construction manager. The facility is expected to be complete in May 2018.
