September 27, 2011

Gwinnett Tech Life Sciences Center Offers Latest Health Science and Learning Technology in LEED Silver Environment

Gwinnett Technical College's new Life Sciences Center offers students, faculty, and business and healthcare partners an interactive learning facility that features the most advanced laboratory, classroom and clinical simulation centers – all within a LEED-constructed building as eco-friendly as it is aesthetically inviting.

The three-story, 78,000-square foot center has 12 classrooms and 17 health science labs, plus student study and gathering areas, computer labs, faculty offices, conference rooms and lounge areas. Constructed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guides, the center was designed and constructed in anticipation of achieving a LEED Silver rating.

"Providing our students a learning environment that includes the latest technology and collaborative learning tools in their respective fields is always our goal – and the new Life Sciences Center exceeds that expectation. The energy efficiency and LEED design features used also make this center a very healthy and beautiful environment – which we know promotes learning," says Sharon Bartels, president, Gwinnett Tech.

Among the Life Sciences Center's classroom and lab features are:

• T.E.A.L (Technology-Enhanced Active Learning) Classrooms which integrate technology and teaching to enhance student participation and collaborative learning. Round tables, multiple "white boards" and projection options, and power clusters for student laptop use enable group computer-based learning.

• Two lecture rooms that feature theater seating, white board and projection technology, and individual lap stations can accommodate 90 students when necessary.

• A Nursing Skills Suite that includes a host of "human simulators," hospital bedside environments and a nursing station that models today's clinical environments. The simulators can mimic an extraordinary range of medical situations – from birth to cardiac arrest.

• A Bioscience Lab Suite that includes a DNA lab, a protein analysis lab and several other lab and prep areas.

• A Medical Assisting Suite that replicates today's medical offices, including exam rooms and electronic records stations.

• Multiple anatomy and physiology, chemistry and microbiology labs.

Features of the Life Sciences Center that support its LEED status are:

• Water-efficient landscaping is supported by a drip irrigation system that utilizes minimal water supplied by rainwater. Rain fall is collected into an onsite cistern and distributed thru a sophisticated computerized irrigation control system.

• Energy utilization was modeled during the building design and will be monitored by a series of meters connected to a computerized Energy Management System to track actual usage. This information will be displayed on an Energy Dashboard in the building's lobby.  

• Extensive daylight is found throughout the building with lighting controls that allow for adjusting the lights depending upon time of day.

• Showers are available for those building users that bicycle to work and make use of the bike racks provided.

• Materials used in the Center's construction are made up of at least 20% recycled content and were manufactured in this area.

GTC offers more than 50 degree, diploma and certificate options that can be completed in two years or less. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.

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