Anoka-Ramsey Community College marked the completion of a major renovation project Thursday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
For more than a year, the college has been overhauling its 31,150 square foot Business and Nursing Building. The remodeled space includes updated classrooms, open study areas, offices and labs. Four simulation labs give nursing students hands-on training with medical scenarios controlled by instructors in real time.
"As we celebrate the renovation and the refurbishment environment, we are really excited about this new beginning," said Don Lewis, vice president of finance and adminstration for Anoka-Ramsey Community College. "The physical spaces that are now within our walls provide our students with first-rate, state of the art classrooms, labs and simulation areas."
Specialty rooms including one for maternity and one for home care give students an opportunity to delve deeper into specific care scenarios. The rooms also record video and audio to allow for debriefs after simulations are complete.
The $16 million dollar project was funded by the state legislature in 2020. Anoka-Ramsey's nursing program is the second largest in the state.