Educational enhancement has never looked so appealing.
Faulkner State Community College is proud to announce the completion of the new Allied Health and Natural Science Building on its Fairhope Campus. The 52,000 square-foot building was dedicated on Friday, August 13.
Building Facilities
The new Health and Science Center, comprised of three floors, will enable the College to expand the amount of Allied Health and Natural Science programs and course offerings on the Fairhope Campus. These programs include RN and LPN Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Pharmacy and other science-based programs.
Due to the College’s continual record-breaking enrollments, and with more than 5,000 students expected to enroll this fall, expanding these programs will not only benefit the College, but it will give students many more options as they register for upcoming semesters.
By adding 22 high-tech classrooms and labs, the Center has created a learning environment like none other, especially for those who will be majoring in one of the College’s prestigious Allied Health programs.
With the College’s 100% pass rate for the nursing students taking the National Council Licensure Exam, adding this building will continue to enhance the Allied Health students’ learning experience.
The classrooms and labs will primarily be used for courses in Allied Health, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science and Microbiology. Additionally, the new building will have general purpose classrooms available for students taking core curiculum classes.
The third floor houses unallocated space to allow for program expansion and future program development.
LEEDing the Pack
With environmental awareness a top priority in today’s society, it is no surprise that one of the most important and unique features of the new Health and Science Center is the energy-efficient and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified designation.
In the building’s initial stages, energy-saving features were planned to make the structure environmentally friendly while still providing much needed space for classrooms.
Once the building is complete, the College will receive notice of it being named a silver-level LEED building. This is the first building in Alabama’s two-year college system to be considered for LEED certification.
From the automatic plumbing fixtures to the high-efficiency filters located in the HVAC (air-conditioning) system, this building was designed to provide only the best “green” features.
Although the majority of the energy-saving aspects are “behind the scenes,” there are several features students, faculty, staff and guests will notice upon entering the building. Vast amounts of indirect natural light from large windows located throughout the building and automatic light sensors in every hallway, classroom and bathroom will greatly diminish the use of electricity.
Lights will automatically turn on and off as a person enters and exits a room.
Features like this make this building one of few to be listed as a LEED certified, energy efficient structure.
Student Downtime
While energy efficiency and academia-enhancement were the focus in the construction of this building, designers also factored in student comfort by mapping out areas for socializing and personal enrichment in the contemporary style of the Sun Chief Den.
The Den, which is graced by the subtle beauty of the most modern furnishings, consists of comfortable and stylish seating groups, two 52” high-def televisions, a full vending area, and a double-sided gas fireplace for those chilly winter days.
The Den is located on the first floor and is adjacent to the beautifully landscaped outside terrace. The terrace is equipped with patio furnishings to provide students enjoyment from bay breezes and shading from the more than 150-year old live oak tree, a campus landmark.
If a student wants to have a last-minute pre-test review or even just wants to surf the Web, they can head to one of the conveniently located study areas on the second floor. These semi-private areas house laptop tables and natural lighting to enhance a student’s learning environment while utilizing the free Wi-Fi for personal or professional use.
Faculty/Staff Affected
Students are not the only ones who will enjoy the addition of this cleverly designed building.
The 14-seat boardroom dedicated to meetings or business luncheons will be accesible to all faculty, staff and community groups.
Complete with ergonomic, high-back chairs, full teleconferencing capabilities, and a PowerPoint and presentation friendly 52” high-def video-equipped television, this boardroom will become a high tech meeting area for community and campus leaders to participate in state-of-the-art video conferencing.
Twenty-seven faculty/staff offices are strategically and conveniently located throughout the new Health and Science Center to make faculty and staff easily accesible to students for academic advisement and career planning.
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Pictures from the Building Dedication on August 13, 2010
The building was named the John L. Borom Center for Health and Natural Sciences
Tags: Borom, building, Fairhope, health, health and natural science building, natural science