A state-of-the-art building
Funds raised through the VISION campaign will first serve to build a new health sciences building for Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface. This $13-million structure, with a total surface area of approximately 25 000 square feet, will be the first major expansion of CUSB since the 1970s.
Real world settings
The main feature of this new health sciences building is "real world" learning. The second floor of the building will simulate that of a hospital setting. We want to offer professional training in as realistic a setting as possible. When you step onto this floor, you will feel as though you are entering a real hospital wing.
Technical details
- The two-storey building will cover approximately 25,000 square feet.
- A bright atrium will link the new building to the existing one, at the East gymnasium. This open and inviting space will become a new entrance to CUSB from Aulneau Street and the West parking lot.
- The new building will allow for more parking than is currently available. The parking lot entrance will be situated on Despins Street.
- Dedicated to theoretical learning, the ground floor will house classrooms, offices for faculty members and change rooms where students can put on their hospital uniforms.
- Smart classrooms, equipped with the latest in wireless technology, will provide students with sophisticated computer and audio-visual tools to better prepare them to meet the challenges of tomorrow's labour market.
- Three laboratories, containing five to eight hospital beds, will be set up.
- A medical clinic for CUSB students will also be opened. A nurse practitioner will be available on a regular basis.
- Upstairs, three simulation rooms will be equipped with one-way mirrors. Mannequins will be used to simulate various health problems. In an adjoining control room, a microphone will allow a technician to imitate the voice of a patient, to add to the sense of realism. In another room, a home environment will be set up in order to simulate home care situations. There will be a home-like setting, with a bedroom and bathroom. All the specialized equipment used to lift and transfer patients with reduced mobility will be included. It will also be possible to set up the space as a living room to simulate home visits, such as those done by a social worker. Some conference rooms will be equipped with cameras to observe proceedings in the simulation rooms and one of the laboratories. In one of the three rooms, it will be possible to record the activities at the eight simulation areas (eight beds) simultaneously. Assessors will be able to circulate in real time from one area to the other to evaluate the progress of the various groups of students.
- Two conference rooms containing audio-visual equipment will allow closed-circuit observation of simulation exercises or recording for later viewing.
- Many other details, such as the use of compressed air will contribute to recreating an authentic hospital setting.
- The building will be erected in accordance with LEED standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
A pressing need
Since 1980, the number of programs and students at CUSB has tripled. However, the campus has not expanded. New, leading-edge facilities will solve the urgent problem of lack of space that affects the entire CUSB community.
Construction of a building dedicated to health care will also address the shortage of health care professionals that we are facing. In 2000, the Manitoba government announced that a shortage of nurses was the most serious problem in the province's health care system. At that time CUSB was given the mandate to train bilingual health care professionals and so contribute to increasing the number of nurses. This training will be done in the new building.
Added advantages
In 2000, the CUSB was given the mandate to train French-speaking health care professionals. The CUSB is committed to playing an important role in reducing the nursing shortage. To that end, the construction of the new Health Sciences Building is essential.
We will build synergy by gathering our health sciences programs under one roof, enhancing the learning experience for students, enhancing the working environment for professors and increasing the benefits for other stakeholders in the field of health care; all the while enabling CUSB to forge ahead, at the forefront of health care and social services.
A new, modern facility will help to attract more students.
Finally, an increase in the number of bilingual nurses, as a consequence of erecting the new health sciences building, will contribute to improving the health of all Manitobans.
