Long Beach City College is home to a nationally-recognized nursing program. The health and technology building is three stories and was constructed circa 1969. The outdated facility was inadequate for the College’s nursing department to teach and prepare students to work in today’s 21st Century hospitals. To maximize the use of the existing spaces and provide a 21st Century Learning Environment—one designed for the specific needs of the Nursing and Health Technology program—the District and Studio W converted all existing enclosed areas to support the new functional needs of the department.
This included state-of-the-art nursing labs featuring mannequins that simulate health emergencies. The labs are connected to a testing center with visibility to the labs so instructors can evaluate and train students in nursing care. Additional spaces for lecture, administrative, storage and support spaces were built into the program.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the project was taking the original architecture and enhancing it, while making sure it was complimentary to other structures on campus, yet just modern enough to suggest a contemporary feel. New design details included archways, keystone elements and wainscoting.
