Grand Valley State University's next project to add to the Grand Rapids skyline hit the ground running Monday as the university kicked off the public fund-raising campaign and announced the completion of the silent campaign and major lead gifts for the GVSU Center for Health Professions.
The center, to be funded by state and private dollars totaling $57.1 million, will be built on the corner of Michigan and Lafayette, with completion targeted for 2003. Ground breaking is planned for next summer.
The university has announced that contributions totaling $16 million have already been pledged, including gifts from community leaders such as Audrey Sebastian, Peter Cook, Richard M. DeVos, and Jay Van Andel. That leaves the university with a $4 millionfund-raising goal. The State has committed $37.1 millionto the project.
The laboratory and teaching facility will house GVSU's School of Health Professions, the Kirkhof School of Nursing, and programs from the Life Sciences.
Moving the home bases of our health professions and health sciences programs from Allendale to Grand Rapids is the right move at the right time, said Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for Development.
Our programs have matured over 30 years to the point at which we offer our students significant practical experiences in West Michigan's health care and research communities, said GVSU President Arend D. Lubbers.
This location, directly within Michigan 'life sciences corridor,' will be close to our region's major health care providers and research institutes.
Lubbers also noted that opportunities for student and faculty research, and other practical experiences, are of mutual benefit to the partner institutions.
The planned five-story, 215,000-square-foot Center for Health Professions also leaves room for the university to expand its health education offerings. To date, the following programs are slated to occupy the facility: School of Health Professions, including physical therapy; occupational therapy, physician assistant studies; therapeutic recreation; and occupational safety and health; Kirkhof School of Nursing, including the BSN and MSN programs; the registered nurse RN to BSN to MSN progression; post graduate certificates; continuing nursing education; community clinical services; and the Nursing Center for Global Health; and from Life Sciences, cell and molecular biology; and clinical lab sciences.
