Holyoke Community College Center for Health Education

Faced with limited space for expansion on the main campus and experiencing a growing demand for its Health Sciences programs, Holyoke Community College purchased and renovated a former commercial building located off campus to accommodate this demand. The renovated building now serves as the Center for Health Sciences Education and houses the College’s Nursing and Radiologic Technology programs, in which students may earn a Practical Nursing Certificate, an Associate Degree in Nursing, and an Associate Degree in Science with a focus on Radiology Technology for use in the medical imaging professions.

The Center also supports the Foundations of Health program by providing modern low-fidelity labs within the nursing program spaces. Facilities for the Nursing program include high-fidelity (hi-fi) simulation lab suites, low-fidelity (lo-fi) patient assessment bed labs, small classrooms used as debrief rooms, lab support space, and faculty and staff offices. Radiologic Technology program components consist of a mock X-ray suite, a medium-sized X-ray demonstration classroom for 30 persons, an image critique room, lab support space, and faculty and staff offices. Shared spaces in the new facility include educational spaces such as large and small flexible classrooms, administrative space along with conference rooms, faculty lounge, and support, and student spaces consisting of a large study commons and break-out area that can accommodate a food service stand and a building information panel.

Working with the College and the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, Ellenzweig provided full architectural services for the 19,210 gsf renovation project.