Technology includes wireless Internet access throughout the facility, video cameras in 70 locations, more than 50 multi-image projection screens or video walls in classrooms, portable plasma screens, a virtual reality simulation lab, a master control room, six wet labs, a cold room, five different seating options for classrooms, a therapeutic pool, a darkroom, a radioisotope room, 13 fully mediated labs, and portable laptop units that allow every classroom to function as a computer lab. The plasma screens can be moved throughout the interior and exterior of the building for use in clinical areas, the courtyards, atrium, or conference rooms. Images can also be sent directly to the master control room and then be routed to anywhere in the building, on campus, or around the world. Researchers can send images from the microscopes directly to colleagues in France. The technology can also be used to allow students in a classroom to observe clinical work as it is being performed on a patient.

The building also contains shared labs, 24/7 access for graduate students through an electronic security system, classrooms/computer labs, and flexible classroom setups that can be adapted to suit a particular learning environment. A wide range of health programs are housed in the facility including neuroscience, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, audiology, physical therapy, health fitness, health administration, public health, health education, physician assistant, athletic training, physical education, and sports administration. Special features include a central atrium where educational and social events can be held, courtyards, a waterfall and fountain, an open atmosphere with plenty of windows, movable furniture, and numerous places for students to gather.

The technology has changed the teaching paradigm in the Health Professions Building. Faculty members moved from being dispensers of knowledge to architects and designers of the learning experience, introducing strategies and practices that empower student learning. Hand-held transmitters are also available for use by the students to provide immediate feedback to teachers on how well they understand a subject. The teacher asks the students if they comprehend a certain point of the lecture and they respond by pressing the appropriate button on the transmitter, providing real-time feedback to the faculty member.

Project Information
Building Owner:		Central Michigan University
Owner Contact:		Linda Seestedt-Stanford, Assistant Dean
Building Location:		Mount Pleasant, Michigan UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Teaching, Research, Clinic
Project Delivery Method:		General Contractor
Project Timeline		Nov 1999 Planning Start Feb 2000 Design Start Sep 2000 Construction Start Aug 2003 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$50,000,000
Construction Cost:		$30,500,000
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$177
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Atrium Auditorium Biology Cafeteria Computers Conference Room Dining Education Education: Biology Education: Classroom Education: Computer Lab Education: Faculty Office Education: Lecture Or Seminar Hall Education: Multimedia Education: Student Center Fitness Center Healthcare Healthcare: Ambulatory Outpatient Clinic Healthcare: Medical School Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory Laboratory: Teaching Library Office Research Video Conferenceing Center Vivarium
Total GSF:		172,000
Total NSF:		103,500
Efficiency:		60%
Building Population:		1250
People Density:		138 gsf/person
Building Services:		Water (hot and cold) Soft Water (for Vivarium equipment) Natural Gas (for labs and pool heater) Storm Sanitary Campus Steam Campus Chilled Water
Special Equip:		Therapeutic pool, radioisotopes, wet labs, cold room, dark room, 13 mediated classrooms, vivarium
Office Size:		100 NSF
Power Req:		Lighting: 2 w/sf Power: 7 w/sf Mechanical: 8 w/sf Equipment: 5 w/sf TOTAL: 22 w/sf
HVAC Req:		193,000 total cfm, variable air volume throughout 600 tons cooling capacity (from campus chilled water system) 9200 MBH heating capacity (from campus steam system, converted to hot water) 2500 MBH domestic water heating capacity (from campus steam system) 60 ton back-up chiller and redundant fans utilized for the Vivarium systems
Structure/Foundation:		Structural steel frame with composite floor slabs
Project Team
Builder		JM Olson
Commissioning Agent		LL Catey Engineering
Profile Created 03/09/2005
Last Updated 04/04/2006
About the Reported Cost Figures The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments. Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.