This $50-million, two-story structure comprises approximately 175,000 gross square feet of space. It is designed to create advanced learning environments and resources, which supports the education and training of nearly 3,000 students in nineteen health-related graduate and undergraduate programs. The professional training programs served by this new facility include audiology, athletic training/sports medicine, health education, health administration, public and community health, exercise science/cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, psychology, neuroscience, speech language pathology, and physician assistant studies.

The design of the building integrates structural and functional considerations in a dramatic architectural framework featuring three interconnected wings joined by a two-story atrium. Each wing has distinctive functional characteristics and uses. The most public part of the building is the clinic wing. Here, the multi-service Carls Center for Clinical Care and Education supports a more than half-century tradition of providing state-of-the-art general and specialty clinical care, education and services to rural residents. Students learn and gain meaningful clinical experience in this modern, interdisciplinary setting, which models contemporary practice environments centered around interdisciplinary, team-oriented service delivery and case management.

The instructional wing features advanced instructional and information resources, customized to support all styles of learning. These facilities enhance intellectual engagement and discovery through specialized learning environments. These futuristic classrooms introduce both highly technological and highly interpersonal areas. While conforming to the spaces needed for current as well as new health-related programs offered by the College, these rooms also provide universal access to electronic and multimedia instructional resources. This connectivity allows students, faculty, and the community to gain access to global contacts and information resources any time, anywhere.

Finally, the research and laboratory wing provides modern laboratory facilities and ancillary support areas equipped to assist faculty and students in experimental and applied research devoted to improving health and quality of life through advances in biomedical knowledge and improvements in disease prevention, management and treatment practices. Offices provide links to the main wings, grouped to enhance faculty and student interaction and collaboration across disciplines.

This modern building serves not only the needs of on-campus learners, but it also provides learning resources and research links for CMU student interns engaged in community-based learning experiences off-campus. It also serves as a resource for alumni and community-based groups. As an example, the information technology capabilities in this building have been designed to support the operation of a rural telehealth and community education network. These facilities provide both on-campus and remote instruction, continuing education for rural health care practitioners, and community-oriented teleconsulting/telehealth programming.

The Michigan Legislature through its capital outlay process has approved the funding of $37.5 million of the $50 million budgeted for this project. In addition, Central Michigan University has committed $2.5 million in support of this project. The remaining $10 million was funded through private gifts.