Prairie Lakes Healthcare Center of Learning Addition and Renovation

Lake Area Technical College

Lake Area Technical College (LATC) prepares students for success in high-demand career fields — an enduring dedication that earned the school an Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Mobilizing to prevent projected shortages in the health care workforce, LATC expanded its health sciences-related programs in the new Prairie Lakes Healthcare Center of Learning which includes a medical simulation suite for nursing and resources for other health care assistance programs.

The design yields highly functional spaces that are structured to resemble modern clinical settings, yet are also flexible enough to adapt to a variety of student and program needs, as well as respond to the evolving demands presented by the future workforce. The most public-facing example is the new entry sequence, which seamlessly ties into the existing architectural themes of one of LATC’s main buildings while simultaneously acting as an eye-catching gateway to the west side of campus. Inside, the renovated high-tech medical labs, classrooms, and nursing simulation lab are updated to foster hands-on learning, allowing students to practice medical skills with life-like, programmable manikins and equipment used in real health care systems. Strategically placed one-way mirrors between control rooms and simulation spaces cultivate live observations and feedback. A master plan supports subsequent phased upgrades to enhance the existing facility.

Designed in collaboration with architect of record, CO-OP Architecture.