Renovations to Sullivan Hall began in early April and have been moving along smoothly. The University hopes to begin utilizing the new building in June 2019.

“The 10,000 square-foot addition will be known as the ‘School of Health Sciences and Education Experiential Learning Commons,’” said Don Walkovich, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education. “It will house a five-bay, state-of-the-art simulation suite, equipped with high-fidelity simulators; a skills lab; and a simulated apartment.”

These renovations will bolster all of SFU’s health-science offerings, including the nursing program, which was recently ranked the number one program in Pennsylvania.

“I think it will be very beneficial to be more hands-on with the technology that the classrooms will have,” said Karson Swogger, a sophomore nursing major. “We will be able to create real-life scenarios which will be very useful for our future careers.”

The addition to Sullivan Hall is considered phase one of the project. Phase two includes renovating the inside and outside of the current Sullivan Hall.

A grant and an anonymous donation brought in about $3 million to fund phase one. Donations are now being accepted for phase two, which is the larger portion of the project.

“I am very excited because we have outstanding outcomes for all of our Health Science and Education programs,” said Walkovich. “Now, we will be able to take them to the next level of their education by providing them with this state-of-the-art facility.”