A $49 million renovation of the University of Southern Indiana Health Professions Center, which houses the University’s Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions, is underway, adding over 48,000 square feet of additional space for classrooms, updated labs and state-of-the-art equipment for growing healthcare programs while also transforming the building’s exterior and entrance to campus.
“This exterior expansion, facing the roundabout and campus entrance, will add a striking new front door to our University,” says Steve Bridges, USI Interim President. “Inside, new labs, meeting spaces and new and updated areas for students and faculty will allow us to continue to grow our programs. The investment represents our commitment to advancing health professions education and serving the healthcare needs of our broader community.”
Funding for the design fees, construction, furniture and equipment comes from the Indiana General Assembly’s capital funding appropriation for USI approved during the 2023 legislative session, according to Jim Wolfe, Director of Facility Operations and Planning. This is the fourth and final stage of a multi-phase project in the Health Professions Center that began with a third-floor renovation in 2018.
“The Kinney College is proud to play a vital role in building the healthcare workforce for our community and state, with licensure and certification pass rates that consistently exceed the national average,” says Dr. Julie McCullough, Dean of the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions. “As we expand and renovate, our students will have access to cutting-edge labs and classrooms, ensuring they receive the best possible training to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare industry.”
Below is a breakdown of the current phase of construction focused on the first and second floors of the building:
Facelift for Front Entrance: The Health Professions Center is getting a bold new makeover that will redefine the entrance to campus. The expanded first floor will be the new home for the Kinney College’s administrative offices, Advising Center and Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning Department, which are currently located on the second floor. There will be multi-functional student dining and study spaces on the first floor, in addition to new classroom space.
New Auditorium: A 250-capacity auditorium will be built on the first floor. The auditorium will be used as an interactive classroom and gathering spot for meetings and large campus events.
Nursing Skills Labs: The University is constructing eight new nursing skills labs equipped with the latest technology and equipment to provide future nurses with hands-on training in patient care. These state-of-the-art facilities will simulate a hospital setting, ensuring that students gain practical experience in a controlled and supportive environment.
Respiratory Therapy Labs: On the second floor, two new labs will be created for students in the USI Respiratory Therapy Program to support hands-on learning and clinical skill development. Equipped with the latest technology and ventilators, these labs will offer a realistic healthcare environment where students can practice critical procedures such as ventilator management, airway clearance techniques and cardiopulmonary assessment. A comfortable, quiet, and safe pulmonary function testing lab will allow students to conduct various tests that assess lung function.
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Labs: Also on the second floor, there will be two new OTA classrooms with advanced therapeutic equipment and adaptive tools to help students to develop critical skills in assisting patients with various physical, cognitive and sensory challenges. The space will foster collaboration, learning and innovation, preparing OTA students for success in diverse healthcare settings.
Updated Look for the Second Floor: Faculty and staff offices, study areas, bathrooms, elevators, hallways and stairwells will be updated to match the newly remodeled areas in the building.
