HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER EXPANSION, KU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
When enrollment spiked at the KU School of Nursing, the University of Kansas started the plans for an expansion of their Salina campus in 2016. The space, designed by DMA Architects and built by Hutton, offers additional offices, conference rooms, classrooms, labs and study spaces for the newly combined campus of the University of Kansas’ Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
SERVICES
- Construction management at-risk
- Cost estimating
- Site coordination
- Self-perform
DETAILS
While the original KU School of Nursing began with 12 students enrolled for the 2017 fall semester, this expansion was built to provide space for an anticipated 80 students between the combined Nursing and Medical schools in 2021.
DID YOU KNOW?
Because the building used to be a bank, some medical offices were designed inside of the building’s old bank vaults.
BANK BECOMES INSTITUTE
After the Salina Regional Health Foundation bought the former Planter’s State Bank building in 2016 to become the Salina campus, the foundation began a $6.5 million capital campaign called the Blueprint for Rural Health to renovate, furnish and construct the new facility.
When construction finished, the first floor for the new campus was equipped with multiple labs, exam rooms and nursing offices. The second floor has six classrooms, multiple common study areas and a gross anatomy lab. And the basement includes a commercial kitchen, community room for events, and a student lounge with a fitness area and locker rooms.
WHAT’S A BUILDING WITHOUT ART?
Upon entering the building, guests are greeted by local, original artwork. Multiple individual artists and teams of artists across Kansas were chosen to create original pieces to hang in the new facility after a competitive selection process was conducted. The artists chosen were asked to create works that reflect the mission of the Salina campus and its location. These pieces include a wall-mounted glass piece, four paintings, a large collage, a sculpture and a mixed-media piece.
