Montgomery County Community College’s new 145,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center positions the College to be a regional leader in health and wellness education to be the catalyst to change lives.
State, township and local officials joined MCCC in celebrating the opening of the Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 30.
"Due to strides in medical research and a growing older population, health care is one of the fastest developing industries and largest employers today," said Dr. Kevin Pollock, President of Montgomery County Community College. "With the anticipated demand for a trained health care workforce , we planned and executed the renovation and expansion of this building, so we could prepare students to work in these growing careers."
The Center includes 14 laboratories for Health Science programs; a Dental Hygiene Clinic with 25 operatories, x-ray rooms and simulation laboratories; a multipurpose competition gym with seating for 1,100 people; a 7,000 square-foot fitness center; an educational gym; and 11 classrooms and office suite.
Construction started in September 2015 to transform the existing Physical Education building, constructed in 1970 when MCCC relocated its campus from Conshohocken to Blue Bell, into a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center.
"Our primary goal is student success, and in this Center, our students receive the real world, hands-on experience and confidence they need to success when they enter the healthcare workforce," said MCCC Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Victoria Bastecki-Perez. She adds, "Its flexible design allows us to adapt programs to accommodate changing demands in County jobs."
The building incorporates sustainability features such as the use of energy-efficient equipment, LED lighting, natural lighting and recycled materials. The attractive exterior landscape also has a sustainability focus with a specially designed rain garden—a basin that captures rainwater and prevents runoff—allowing the natural environment to flourish.