Topping off: See as the final piece of steel is lifted for the Health Science Ed Center

Roane State Community College and its non-profit foundation, along with TCAT Knoxville, hosted a ceremony on July 2 commemorating a major milestone in the construction of the new $75 million Knox Regional Health Science Education Center in West Knoxville.

Construction crews hoisted and installed the final piece of steel for the facility’s frame as part of the event, according to a Roane State news release. Project supporters and members of the community watched the “topping off” ceremony with many signing their names to the beam before it was lifted.

“This moment is symbolic as we move ever closer to opening the doors of this new campus, a facility which will help the college fulfill its mission of strengthening lives through the power of higher education and building thriving communities,” Scott Niermann, Roane State Foundation’s executive director, was quoted as saying in the release.

“Healthcare professionals are with us during the best and worst times of our lives, and the need for these skilled workers has never been more critical,” Niermann added. “With the future of the healthcare workforce to be educated right where we stand today, this campus will likely touch each and every one of us.”

Located at 9575 Sherrill Boulevard, across from Parkwest Medical Center, the 130,000-square-foot facility will house health science programs offered by both Roane State and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville.

As reported earlier in The Oak Ridger, the goals of the new center, according to a brochure, are “to expand student access to health science education; meet critical workforce needs in East Tennessee communities, including rural counties; and elevate the quality of patient care across East Tennessee.”

The center will replace Roane State’s current Knox County Center for Health Sciences and allow both colleges to significantly expand health science courses and programs. The campus is expected to educate more than 8,000 students each year in a variety of healthcare roles and is currently set to open in the fall of 2025.

Roane State programs to be housed in the new center include nursing, emergency medical services (EMS), polysomnography, and respiratory therapy, with the college planning to add new programs such as cardiovascular technology, healthcare administration, ultrasound, and public health.

The center will feature a large multi-purpose simulation center aimed at immersing students in real-world scenarios that elevate their training.

Many stories on large donations by companies have been published in The Oak Ridger, but more money is needed. The Roane State Foundation is seeking at least $7.5 million in private philanthropy to complete the project and sustain funding for the students who will attend, the release stated. Interested supporters can learn more about getting involved with the fundraising effort or making a contribution at thrive.roanestate.edu.

The project is expected to be completed and students attending classes at the new center by fall 2025, according to Sarah Self, Roane State marketing and communications director.