John Brown University broke ground Monday on a $6 million Health Sciences Building scheduled to be complete by fall 2016.
The building will include three classrooms, four exam rooms with computer-operated, interactive mannequins that simulate urgent care scenarios for student education, two health assessment labs, a computer lab, offices and study lounges, according to a news release from JBU.
The new facility will be located between the Balzer Technology Center and Bell Science Hall on campus.
JBU, located in Siloam Springs, is constructing the 20,000-SF nursing facility as part of a university project called JBU's Campaign for the Next Century.
The seven-year campaign, which began privately in 2012, aims to raise $35 million in scholarships, $30 million for facilities, $10 million for academic endowments, $25 million in estate gifts for future endowments and $25 million for future projects and operating support.
JBU first began working to create a nursing program in 2011 and in fall 2014, 35 students began pre-nursing classes and will complete their freshman-sophomore prerequisites in spring 2016.
