Seattle Central Community College might be able to identify with some of its students with big plans but small budgets. The college announced it is planning a $40 million regional health care education center at its Capitol Hill campus. They just need to find a way to pay for it.
“We’re looking to hire a firm to do studies to see if there is the potential out there to raise money,” said spokesperson Laura Mansfield. “Being a state entity, we have to do it within the process. Then, we’ll do a feasibility study to see if there’s interest out there from private donors and interested partners to raise money.”
The proposed building would be a student training center for SCCC students studying nursing, dental hygiene, opticianry licensed dispensing, respiratory care and surgical technology – the five health science degrees the college offers.
“Seattle Central has a strong investment in health sciences,” said Mansfield. “We are preparing students for careers in the global health industry and we want to be a player in it.”
Meanwhile, the school is also moving forward with plans to construct a new plant sciences lab in the empty lot next to the SCC garage between Harvard and Boylston. In the CHS comments, Wendy Rochill, Interim Dean of Science and Math, added more details about the school’s plan to fund the new project:
Seattle Central is thrilled to finally have the Plant Sciences Lab come to life. The funds for this project have been set aside for more than six years. As a capitol project, we can are limited by law to only use these funds for specific projects (for example we cannot use these funds for classroom instruction). We are pleased to have a chance to put this money into a project that will improve the vacant lot to the north of the garage. The only building present will be a green house for starting plants, over-wintering of plants, and projects such as herbs for the culinary arts program. There will be no lawn and the plantings will focus on native and sustainable agriculture. SCCC grounds crews will not be maintaining the area; it will fall under the auspices of the Science and Math Division Laboratory Technician who is a master gardener and native plant enthusiast.Some of the highlights of the new Plant Sciences Lab include the following:Urban food systems production through the Sustainable Agriculture ProgramHerbs grown for the Culinary Arts Program at SCCCSustainable building, landscape, and plantingsHands on laboratory experiences for studentsA great spot to enjoy native plant lifeAnd more as we develop programs to meet student, community, and college needs.
Please join us for a ground breaking ceremony to be announced soon.
Thanks, Lauren. Just to confirm, Seattle Central is conducting a feasibility study to see if it’s possible to raise money for a regional health center. It’s premature to suggest that we’re about to build anything. That said, it’s an exciting idea to build upon the outstanding health education programs the our college already offers. We’ll keep the Capitol Hill community posted.
And what about the college having an interest in the Sound Transit land, post construction, at the north end of their campus ..
Story??
Is this the location of the proposed center??
Good track for SCCC – shortages all over the place – international problem – in health services, nurses, lab people, etc. Aging population is overloading systems.
I’m happy to hear that the Plant Sciences Lab project is on track. I was part of the community committee that reviewed and approved their plans a year or so ago and was wondering when they’d get a chance to build it. The Lab is a nice use for the space – the amount of traffic they’ll get on the lot should be appropriate for the semi-residential block and it’ll keep the space green. I just hope that it’ll be open to community members some of the time so we can enjoy the native plants too.