DPR Construction

Scope Of Work

The three-story, 30,000-sq.-ft. ground up addition to the University of San Diego (USD)’s nursing school features a courtyard and a bridge connection to the existing building. The facility offers innovative clinical nursing research and the preparation of nurse scientists, and provides a simulation and standardized patient nursing laboratory for advanced practice registered nurses. The first of its kind in the country, the institute specializes in health research for women, children, the elderly, veterans, and hospice and palliative care patients. This new facility was designed to conform to USD’s 16th century Spanish Renaissance architecture.

The first floor houses the simulation facility, including primary care exam rooms, acute care hospital rooms, and a home care room. Students work with computerized mannequins and trained actor patients, and are monitored with audio-visual equipment in the simulated care environment.

The second floor includes expandable classrooms and a faculty suite. The third floor is dedicated to research and doctoral student education, and houses the Kathryn S. Krause Doctoral Research Library and Study. It also includes the research center and additional classrooms.

“Our new building is truly designed to prepare the next generation of nurse scientists, educators, executives and advanced practitioners,” said Sally Brosz Hardin, dean of USD’s nursing school. It also includes the new and expanded Elizabeth Dickinson Smoyer Nursing Simulation Center, the keystone of the school’s clinical teaching facilities and a national model for nursing education