New AACC Building Opens, Officials Cheer Tools For Health + Life Sciences

ARNOLD, MD — The new Health and Life Sciences Building opened Tuesday at the Arnold campus of Anne Arundel Community College. The $117 million space will support the School of Health Sciences and the Department of Biology with:

• 20 health science labs
• 18 biology labs
• Aquaculture labs
• A greenhouse
• An environmental health research center

Workers broke ground in May 2018. The project stuck to its timeline and its budget, finishing during the initial target of June 2021.

"Despite the COVID worldwide pandemic, construction impressively stayed on track," college spokesperson Angie Hamlet said in a press release. "Generous funding was provided by the county and state. AACC is grateful for their support and for recognizing the importance of this endeavor on both a county and state level."

Officials also cheered the additional resources for the nursing program, which was recently rated the best in Maryland. Some of the latest technologies include computer-controlled manikins that mimic patient conditions and simulation labs to help students practice emergency responses during clinical rotations.

"With a nursing shortage nearing almost crisis levels, there is space to expand the nationally ranked nursing program to soon start doubling admitted student numbers, from 80 accepted per cohort to 160," Hamlet added. "The building helps future healthcare professionals jump more seamlessly into their challenging careers."

The center spans three stories and 175,000 square feet. It occupies four acres of the 230-acre campus.

AACC pointed to the structure's eco-friendly design. The building is on track to earn the second-highest environmental honor for construction projects. This is known as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Some of the green features include:

• Electric vehicle charging stations
• Priority parking for fuel-efficient vehicles
• Wood paneling created from the few trees removed from the lot
• More than 1.3 acres of native landscaping
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures

These strategies allow the building to save 35 percent more energy than a structure that meets the minimum requirements.

Click here to learn more about the new construction. More photos of the site are posted at this link.

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RELATED:

• Graduation Parade Celebrates AACC Students
• AACC Named Best Community College In America: Study
• AACC Named Best Nursing School In Maryland: Survey
• AACC Showed "Resiliency And Vigor" In Coronavirus Response: Award

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