by Taylor Bryant
The University of West Georgia has received the 2013 University System of Georgia Innovation Award for Design and Technology. This is the first year UWG has received the award, which was presented at the USG Annual Facilities Officers Conference by USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby.
UWG’s award was due to its newly built 64,000-square-foot School of Nursing building. The three-story structure features problem-based and technology-enhanced classrooms that support innovative pedagogies. The advanced facilities also encourage teamwork for 21st century nursing practice and support the profession’s higher purpose of caring.
“The building is designed for growth and will provide an environment for the preparation of new nurses who will provide high quality evidence-based nursing care,” said Dr. Kathryn Grams, UWG dean and professor for the School of Nursing. “In addition, it supports the preparation of nurse educators and leaders at the graduate level.”
The building includes study rooms, gathering areas and multipurpose spaces off the commons on the first and second floors. These areas create an environment that encourages teamwork, active learning and collaborative relationships between faculty and students. The second floor also offers state-of-the-art simulations, high-fidelity human patient simulators, and audiovisual capture systems. UWG is one of the first schools in the nation to implement this new simulation software.
The first floor offers a reflection room, garden and labyrinth. In addition to encouraging balance in the lives of UWG’s aspiring healthcare practitioners, these meditation areas support the School of Nursing’s mission to create a caring environment. They demonstrate the school’s commitment to providing quality undergraduate and graduate nursing education to meet current and evolving health care needs within the global community.
“This incredible building was the result of a committed and talented team who created it through an outstanding collaborative process,” said Dr. Grams. “Students, faculty and staff worked closely with designers, builders and UWG Architectural, Engineering and Construction Project Services throughout the project.”
