Making a new home for a growing Health Professions and Medicine program

Oakland University West Campus Renovation - School of Nursing

As Oakland University (OU) has grown its Health Professions and Medicine programs, they’ve run short of space on the main campus. In a timely move, Baker College moved out of their building located about two miles away from OU’s main campus. Taking this opportunity to expand, OU engaged us to help.

While OU had originally planned several small, disconnected renovations for multiple projects, we helped them see how this 1970s-era facility could be transformed by pursuing a more coordinated planning effort. We also provided planning and design services for the new West Campus Center project that would be central to creating a home for the OU School of Nursing. This renovation project would also provide space for better partnership with students in the OU School of Medicine.

The scope of our work included reviewing and adjusting the health science programming for the future and upgrading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) infrastructure. It also included new equipment, interior finishes, and the coordinated installation of instructional technology. The facility provides a simulation clinic with exam rooms and labs related to skills, practice, testing, procedure, and anatomage—where medical students can practice procedures on digitized, 3D cadavers.

With this two-floor renovation that includes a variety of learning opportunities, OU can provide students across all medical professions a space to develop patient care and teamwork skills through interaction with real and simulated patients.