DLR Group has realized the design of Southeastern Community College’s Health Professions Center located in West Burlington, Iowa.

The new Health Professions Center at Southeastern Community College (SCC) North Campus in West Burlington, Iowa responds to a shortage of workers who possess the specialized skills necessary for the healthcare industry. DLR Group’s design creates a virtual hospital, featuring patient simulation labs, an ambulance simulator, modern instructional spaces and cutting-edge technology throughout the 38,000 SF facility.

Once scattered across campus, the Health Professions Center brings all healthcare programs under one roof. Five different lab spaces provide students with the hands-on training they need to learn medical procedures and practice patient care on lifelike simulators. An ambulance simulation room offers EMT students real-world experience by treating replica patients in a working ambulance.

In addition, SCALE-UP (Student-Centered Active Learning Environment with Upside-down Pedagogies) rooms provide flexible spaces where students can utilize the latest healthcare technology in a group setting. This type of learning environment, where students are able to collaborate and interact with each other in active group learning, fosters an authentic learning experience which leads to increased retention. Technology, such as the built-in digital displays at each student group station, gives students the opportunity to utilize the most current tools in the industry and better prepares them to immediately enter the workforce upon graduation.

This building is the focal point on campus. The grand, three-story entry at the south end of the building is clad with red and gray metal panels on the exterior, creating a revitalized campus image and sense of entry. Once inside, daylighting is maximized through a central corridor that runs from the main entry on the north end of the building to the instructor offices at the south end. This central circulation area facilitates student collaboration with technology integrated furniture and seating. The Health Professions Center also features a coffee bar with high-top seating that will be used for events in the atrium space or for student-run organizations and clubs.

Architect: DLR Group
Contractor: Bi-State Contracting, Inc.
Photography: Michael Robinson