The CL and Rachel Werner Center for Health Sciences Education embodies Creighton University’s commitment to interprofessional collaboration, bringing together physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physician assistants and EMS technicians to learn and work under one roof. This facility is the third collaboration between Creighton and RDG, following award-winning designs for the School of Dentistry in Omaha and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Sciences Building in Phoenix. It builds upon a shared vision rooted in ‘Cura Personalis,’ the care of the whole person.

Located at the entrance to Creighton’s Omaha campus, the CL and Rachel Werner Center serves as a health sciences hub and home to the School of Medicine, integrating shared spaces for all health sciences programs. With state-of-the-art learning environments, a centralized interdisciplinary simulation center and advanced group classrooms, the facility is a cutting-edge destination for interprofessional health sciences education and training. Flexible learning spaces support both synchronous and asynchronous distance learning, enhanced by advanced technology that connects Omaha and Phoenix campuses, broadening the reach of Creighton’s educational programs.

At the building’s heart is “The Forum,” a vibrant new concept for gathering that supports flexible learning studios, adaptable classrooms and open social lecture areas. This space is designed to dissolve traditional disciplinary silos, enabling students from diverse programs to connect, share knowledge and practice interprofessional communication — an essential skill for today’s healthcare teams.

RDG’s partnership with Creighton began in 2015 with a health sciences master plan aimed at infusing interdisciplinary educational experiences across disciplines and curricula. In the CL and Rachel Werner Center, this vision is realized through multi-purpose spaces that meet programmatic needs and support Creighton’s budget constraints. A light-filled pathway connects the CL and Rachel Werner Center to an existing building, fostering a unified community of new and established programs. This transparent bridge serves as both a physical and visual connector, encouraging interaction and providing additional study areas for students.

The building’s shifting volumes are designed to channel daylight deep into the interior, offering glimpses of the communities these students will ultimately serve. Circadian lighting systems supplement this natural light, providing a gentle transition throughout the day in areas without direct sunlight to support well-being. The eastern façade reveals a lively cross-section of the building’s activities, transforming its presence throughout the day. Prominently placed staircases encourage movement and remain visible to the public, showcasing the energy within and creating a structure that will serve as a scenic backdrop for planned green spaces and pedestrian pathways.

Design: RDG Planning & Design
MEP: Morrissey Engineering
Structural and civil engineering: TD2
IT/AV: Morrissey Engineering
Photography: Dana Damewood, Tom Kessler, Michael Robinson