MAGNOLIA–Southern Arkansas University will dedicate the Wharton Nursing Building addition and renovation project from 11 a.m. to noon, Monday, December 1, in classroom 244. Keynote remarks will be made by U.S. Congressman Mike Ross.
Dr. Bernadette Fincher, Chair of the SAU Department of Nursing, said the expansion comes at a good time as there is a growing need for registered nurses, particularly in rural communities.
“The expansion of SAU’s Wharton Nursing Building is an important element toward increasing the number of professional nurses available in south Arkansas to provide the surrounding health care facilities with qualified nurses to meet current and future workforce demands,” said Fincher.
The new addition and renovations were completed in two phases. Phase 1 was conducted January through March of 2007 and included connecting the building to the University’s district cooling loop, renovations to the mechanical room and design work necessary for Phase II. All work connected to Phase I was made possible through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant of $334,000 sponsored by Congressman Ross.
Phase II included renovation of three existing classroom/laboratories and the addition of 10,287 square feet in new classrooms/laboratories, offices, support facilities and parking. This phase was conducted February through November 2008, cost approximately $1.9 million and raised total square footage to 25,114. The building addition was designed by CADM architects of El Dorado, Arkansas and constructed by general contractor Coker Building Company Inc. of Arkansas.
