There were no scissors to spare at Texas Woman’s University flagship campus on Thursday, February 12, with not one or two ribbon cuttings, but three — the Health Sciences Center, the Margienetta R. Norris Lactation Suite and the Neva Hudiburgh Cochran Wellness Kitchen. With loads of VIPs including TWU regents, elected officials, alumnae and students in attendance, it was an especially unique highlight as TWU celebrates its 125 anniversary. Here is a report from the field:
It was an action-packed trio of dedication events at Texas Woman’s University on the morning of Thursday, February 12, as officials, faculty, students and supporters gathered to celebrate the opening of the university’s new Health Sciences Center — a $107M multidisciplinary facility designed to expand TWU’s capacity in high-demand healthcare programs and community health services.
The 136,000-square-foot Health Sciences Center marks a major expansion for TWU, the nation’s only woman-focused university system, as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. Funded in large part through an allocation approved by the Texas Legislature, the high-tech facility was designed to promote collaborative learning across nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nutrition, speech-language pathology and other health care disciplines.
Noteworthy facility features include AI and VR-integrated simulation labs (including talking mannequins that replicate real patient scenarios), outdoor mobility training and pediatric therapy spaces, and an amenity-rich therapy gym, as well as community clinics for counseling and family therapy, speech and hearing, and women’s health. The facility is also home to the Dr. Dawn S. Cheney West Commons, a collaborative gathering space…