How are learning environments evolving to support tomorrow’s healthcare workforce?

Colleges and universities across the country are expanding their nursing and allied health programs to meet the growing demand for skilled caregivers. Enrollment is rising, clinical access is shifting, and simulation has become a critical part of how students learn to care for others. As these needs evolve, the spaces that support teaching and training must evolve with them.

Our teams at Mackey Mitchell Architects are seeing this transformation firsthand. Through close collaboration with faculty, program directors, and institutional leaders, we have helped shape environments that reflect the realities of modern healthcare and the changing needs of students.

Why Health Science Education Needs to Change

Healthcare continues to face workforce shortages, and institutions are responding with new programs, expanded cohorts, and more immersive learning models. Students need environments that build confidence, support collaboration, and prepare them for the complexity of real clinical settings.

Simulation-based learning plays a major role in this shift. It creates a safe, controlled environment where students can practice clinical judgment, communication, and hands-on skills before entering patient care. As a result, campuses are investing in:

• flexible skills labs
• high fidelity simulation suites
• control rooms with real-time observation
• mock inpatient and outpatient environments
• team-based classrooms and debrief spaces

These elements work together to help students learn through doing and to ensure they are ready for clinical rotations.

Designing for Growth, Change, and Collaboration

One of the strongest themes in our Health Science Education work is flexibility. Programs expand quickly, equipment evolves, and accreditation standards continue to shift. Supporting long-term success means designing spaces that can adapt.

In our recent projects at Baton Rouge Community College, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Delgado Community College, and Stephens College, we worked closely with institutional partners to understand how their programs are evolving and what kinds of environments will best serve them in the years ahead. These spaces include multipurpose labs that support various disciplines, simulation environments that can easily change scenarios, and classrooms that allow students to transition between instruction and hands-on practice.

Collaboration is equally important. When faculty, administrators, planners, and design teams work together early, the resulting environments reflect shared goals for student experience, program expansion, and regional workforce needs. Meaningful partnership is what helps transform a plan on paper into a place where students feel supported and prepared.

The Impact on Students and Communities

When health science facilities are designed with intention, the impact is immediate. Students report feeling more connected, more confident, and better prepared for clinical responsibilities. Faculty gain the flexibility to teach in new ways, and institutions can grow programs that meet regional workforce demands.

The broader community benefits as well. Many of these institutions serve as essential pipelines for local hospitals, clinics, and health systems. Designing environments that strengthen that pipeline supports not only student success but also the health and resilience of the regions they serve.

Looking Ahead

As the landscape of healthcare continues to change, the environments that prepare future professionals must keep pace. We are honored to work alongside institutions that are investing in their students and their communities, and we remain committed to exploring new ways design can support learning, wellness, and professional growth.

Our Health Science Education brochure offers a deeper look at these spaces and the partnerships shaping them.

Check out the brochure here: