Midwestern University Dedicates State-of-the-Art Science Hall
August 31, 2011
by Office of Communications
On the evening of Tuesday, August 30th, Midwestern University hosted community leaders, media representatives, and supporters of the University at dedication ceremony for their state-of-the-art Science Hall. The 239,000 square-foot Science Hall is a technology-rich, energy-efficient building that provides classroom, laboratory, and research space for faculty and students.
In addition, the Science Hall includes a new Dental Simulation Lab that will be used by the inaugural class of dental medicine students. Midwestern’s College of Dental Medicine-Illinois is the first dental school to open in Illinois in the last 40 years and joins only two others in the state. Other features of the building include a Testing Center that allows 230 students to simultaneously take an exam electronically, an accreditation suite, and a new anatomy laboratory.
“This is the biggest building ever built on the Downers Grove Campus and we were able open it on time because of our wonderful partners and the support of the community,” said Kathleen H. Goeppinger, President and CEO of Midwestern University. “Our mission is very clear; we are here to educate future generations of healthcare professionals. We dedicate this building to our wonderful faculty and staff, to our many alumni who continue to support us as they meet healthcare needs in their communities, and to our students who want to serve in healthcare because they have a driving need to care for others.”
In addition to Dr. Goeppinger, speakers at the event included Representative Peter Roskam, State Senator Ron Sandack, Downers Grove Mayor Martin Tully, and Steven Chanen, President of Chanen Construction. “Washington DC and the rest of the country can learn a lot by looking at what’s going on at Midwestern University,” Rep. Roskam said. “Midwestern exemplifies a high commitment to excellence, has created a collaborative team that comes together around a well-articulated goal, and the ultimate result is a professional platform where people excel and learn the gift of healing.”
The $88 million Science Hall is part of Midwestern University’s $289.9 million capital construction plan that is significantly contributing to the regional economy. The construction activity is forecast to spur $478.5 million in economic activity that supports 2,900 hundred jobs and $184.3 million in personal income. The capital program is one of the largest private sector construction projects in DuPage County.
