A Unified Vision for the Future of Healthcare Education
Owens Community College set out with an ambitious goal: to create a unified, state-of-the-art home for its School of Nursing and Health Professions. For years, the college’s programs were scattered across multiple buildings, limiting program growth and preventing students from experiencing the full potential of their education. With demand for skilled healthcare professionals rapidly increasing, Owens needed more than just a renovation, they needed a transformative space that would attract top students and faculty, inspire learning, and expand the reach of their healthcare programs.
Their vision took shape as the new Healthcare Education Center, a facility housing 11 departments and 23 degree and certificate programs under one roof. The center brings together advanced labs, flexible classrooms, faculty offices, and collaborative spaces, all designed to foster teamwork, hands-on training, and critical thinking essential for today’s healthcare professionals.
Leveraging NBS’s expertise in both education and healthcare, we helped create a facility that bridges the two fields seamlessly. Collaborating closely with Buehrer Group and Bostwick Design Partnership, NBS provided furnishings that aligned with the center’s modern aesthetic and healthcare mission. From preliminary layouts and finish coordination, we worked alongside the college and design partners to ensure every space supported its intended function, from quiet study to active training and group work. Together, the team carefully selected every detail to enhance the learning experience, encourage engagement, and reflect the professionalism of the healthcare industry.
“Buehrer Group enjoyed working with NBS to ensure the facility was fully furnished with durable, aesthetically pleasing, and appropriate furniture pieces that provide comfortable spaces suitable for this environment and supportive of the students and curriculum,” shared Jamie Tscherne, Interior Designer at Buehrer Group.
Today, this building serves as a vibrant hub of learning and connection, where students train in cutting-edge labs for Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Surgical Technology, Sonography, Radiology, and Occupational Therapy.
“The Healthcare Education Center has transformed the way we teach and learn,” explained Dr. Denise Smith, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Owens Community College. “Students experience a dynamic environment that mirrors real-world healthcare collaboration, while faculty are energized by new opportunities to connect across programs. The center embodies what’s possible when partners unite around a shared vision to advance education and community health.”
Learn more about Owens Community College Healthcare Education Center: owens.edu/healthcareeducationcenter/
