$300 million health sciences campus under construction in Wichita, Kansas

A consortium of higher education institutions is building a $300 million health sciences facility in Wichita, Kansas.

The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a collaboration among Wichita State University, University of Kansas and WSU Tech.

The health care education facility will house several programs in one location. Wichita State’s College of Health Professions and Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s nursing and surgical tech programs, and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy will be represented on the new campus.

“The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a tangible expression of our dedication to advancing health care through collaboration and innovation,” Wichita State President Rick Muma said in a news release. “By bringing together researchers, health care professionals and industry leaders, we’re creating an environment where groundbreaking discoveries can thrive and collaboration sparks innovation."\

A news release from the KU Medical Center says phase one of the project will be an eight-story, 350,000-square-foot tower. It is expected to house 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff. Pooling resources and creating a hub for health science education will create new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and research.  

Wichita State and WSU Tech will share the first four stories of the new building. The fifth story will include adjoining anatomy labs and a shared simulation center with features including:     

• a large 1,000 square foot, four-bed simulation room with movable wall for separation  
• six 425-square-foot, two-bed simulation rooms  
• a control area behind mirrored windows to allow visibility into each simulation room for faculty observation and participation
• a 30-person simulation classroom 
• five 12-person debriefing rooms 

The  building is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The tower’s façade juxtaposes terra cotta panels and bands of glass on a stair-stepped profile. A street-facing, three-story pavilion houses three 80-seat classrooms, and can be converted into an events venue. A portion of the pavilion’s roof is a spacious outdoor terrace that overlooks a main thoroughfare.

Inside, shared learning spaces boast advanced laboratories and leading-technology simulation rooms for hands-on training. The building is designed to accommodate approximately 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff, serving as a collaborative hub for students across various disciplines. Additional Wichita connections include strategically designed city views from interior community spaces.

The architects are Helix Architecture + Design and CO Architects.