The college announced in February 2025 a campaign to raise $15 million for the project with the goal of making the college “the school of choice” for people pursuing a career in medicine.
As Mercy nears that $15 million goal, it has begun preparing the site for construction, including the demolition of the 12,000-square-foot building, called Building 2, along Seventh Street just south of Interstate 235. The building has sat vacant since 2018 when it was deemed unfit for classes.
The new 24,000-square-foot building will be named after Joyce Lillis, who spent nearly 40 years as a nurse, most of them in the MercyOne system. Lillis and her husband, Terry, contributed $2.5 million to the project, saying it was an easy decision to make because it’s important to get more nurses trained to fill the shortage in the state…