By Melissa Copleand
Work is nearly finished at Peninsula College’s new Allied Health and Early Childhood Development Center building, located at the Port Angeles Campus. The building will house the Medical Assisting programs, the Nursing program and the new Educare Center.
“The entire medical portion of the building is designed to replicate a hospital setting so that students fit right in after graduation,” said David Wegener, PC Construction Project Manager. There is also Sim Lab located on the second floor. This lab provides a high pressure simulation for nursing students who will be working under these conditions daily.
The building itself has a ton of study spaces as well as an area on the second floor that features a kitchenette. No longer will it be a challenge for groups of nursing students to find enough space to study. There is also several sets of lockers throughout the building for student use so they don’t need to lug those giant textbooks around anymore.
The Educare Center is also getting a much needed upgrade. Educare is currently located in a converted handball court, and have been there since May of 1987. This location was supposed to be temporary however the center has remained there since the move.
“We’re all very excited for the move to the new building,” said Mary Lou Melly, Director of PC Early Childhood Children’s Programs, “to actually have a space that is designed for children is amazing.”
The children’s safety has been taken into high consideration with a separate entrance, that’s completely isolated from the rest of the building. Anyone trying to enter these doors will either need to be let in by staff or have a key. The playground separates the age groups for the kids ensuring safety at all levels. The new center also features a full service n commercial kitchen, for the kids meals throughout the day.
Both the Nursing and Medical Assisting areas should be finished and moved in by the end of spring break, however, Educare does not plan to move in until September 2017. Currently the Nursing and Medical Assisting classrooms are located in the L building, which will be torn down to make way for a fire lane.