New Haven, CT – The Gateway Community College project, scheduled for completion in 2011, will consolidate many of the programs currently housed on the Long Wharf and North Haven campuses to their new location in downtown New Haven. This new $140 million facility will significantly increase the ability of the college to accommodate growth in its enrollment, which is currently at about 11,000 students a year.
The architect is Perkins + Will. Rob Goodwin, AIA is the architectural principal and Stevanie Demko, IIDA is the interior design principal.
A glazed tower defines the main entry of this 367,000sf facility, marking a corner of one of New Haven’s ‘Nine Squares.’ The building culminates in a curved, multi-story glass volume that houses a two story library and makes a unique urban gesture as a “gateway” to the city. The sky-lit public atrium, anchored by a “learning wall” with interactive displays, is unified by stadium seating that can be used for studying, informal gathering or full school meetings.
The new curriculum provides various educational programs such as math, science, language, art and music along with specialized programs in social sciences, early childhood development, engineering, computer technology, culinary arts, nursing and allied health programs.
The College will also have a daycare center within the early childhood learning program as well as a continued education, small business department, community room, cafeteria and outreach programs. The facility has been developed to provide linkages to high schools and adult education centers offering courses to increase student readiness for college.
Two programs that have been very successful are Allied Health and Nursing. The College’s new location is vibrant with activity and is in close proximity of local hospitals.
Yale-New Haven Hospital, Hospital of St. Raphael and Healthcare Partner’s feedback were all solicited in designing the environment for the Nursing Division on the new campus.
The creation of a realistic environment that simulates the hospital setting is critical in educating Allied Health and Nursing students. The partners, as members of the Nursing Advisory Council, were provided with floor plans and asked for input in designing the space to ensure that the technology in the new campus area matches the technology of the healthcare provider sites.
The Directors of Allied Health and Nursing worked with the local community to understand the specific needs to the development and preparation of students for the institutions to create the vision to develop a new facility to support the needs.
The new department will occupy the fourth floor utilizing approximately 14,300sf. Shared by both programs, a 100 seat classroom is centrally located and can be divided to accommodate smaller groups. The surrounding Allied Health program includes nuclear medicine, radio pharmacy, camera labs, x-ray, radiation therapy and nutrition labs.
The Nursing program includes two full functioning simulation rooms and a large skills lab which feature beds and non-functioning gas dispensers. Life-sized phantoms and pixy whole body radiographic mannequins with realistic anatomy enables students to perform radiographic exams prepare students for future roles in the medical field.
