Latest building a hit on polytech campus
Whitireia health faculty students are walking taller and dressing better to keep in step with their new state-of-the-art building on campus.
The $17 million health faculty building has brought together the polytech’s 1700 nursing, paramedic and health sciences students under the same roof.
Hi-tech simulation laboratories mimic hospital and home environments making training more realistic. This includes new medical mannequins that can talk and be operated by tutors observing students remotely from another room.
Classrooms have glass walls open to view, letting in light and opening the learning process up to passersby.
The building is also ecofriendly, using solar panels for hot water, and rainwater for flushing toilets.
It has been built in 12 months supervised by project manager Kelvin Irvine, who said students were dressing well out of pride in their new surroundings. The students agree it is ‘‘You walked in the first day and it completely blew your mind,’’ third-year nursing student Charlotte Boyadijan said.
Second-year paramedic student Jake Carlson said students’ training had improved because having tutors observe exercises remotely made simulations more real.
Paramedic degree programme leader Gary Strong is equally impressed with the facilities.
‘‘I think this sets a new standard. This is as good as any I’ve seen in New Zealand or overseas.’’
Whitireia chief executive Don Campbell is delighted with the building and said staff and students were settling in well.
‘‘It’s really taking our health department into a new dimension.’’
The next building to receive a makeover on campus will house the arts and service industries faculties.