As the holiday break continues, so does work on the Emporia State University campus.
This includes work on the soon-to-open ESU Nursing and Student Wellness Center, which will begin hosting classes by the middle of next month. That’s according to ESU Facilities Director Peter Hauff, a recent guest of KVOE’s Morning Show who says classes are set to begin Tuesday, January 20th.
At last word, the university is still awaiting its certificate of occupancy, but did receive approval from the Kansas State Fire Marshall the week prior, with landscaping work also wrapped up for the most part. At this time, final interior touch-ups and furniture installation are the primary focus as we head into 2026.
In addition to furniture deliveries, Hauff tells KVOE News they are eagerly anticipating the delivery of new practical equipment, including recently ordered hospital beds and new simulation software.
Hauff mentioned this project has been “A long time coming,” and staff and faculty are very excited to see it open soon.
The project was largely funded through donations, grants and spending authority granted by the Kansas Legislature and is part of the university’s restructuring effort, which began just over three years ago. The opening of the new facility will see the nursing department return to the ESU campus in full after decades of being housed inside of Cora Miller Hall on the campus of Newman Regional Health.
In addition to the educational space provided by the facility, the new center will also replace the current student wellness center in Southeast Morris Hall, which was a clinical space built into what was originally residence space.
