UT Tyler Unveils Expansion to Braithwaite Building
September 4, 2024 | Elizabeth Wingfield
The University of Texas at Tyler hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion
of the David G. and Jacqueline M. Braithwaite Building, which houses the School of
Nursing. The addition added 47,000 square feet and increased simulation and skills
lab spaces.
“There continues to be a shortage of nurses, and this expansion will allow us to train more students and better serve the health care needs of East Texas,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “We are extremely grateful to the support from our community and UT System.”
The UT System Board of Regents allocated $50.5 million for the addition and complete renovation of the building. Construction began in 2023.
Since the expansion, the school has more than tripled its capacity for simulation. The first floor is comprised of simulation spaces, designed for training in medical surgical acute care, intensive care, pediatrics, mother-baby and home health. The first floor also features an open lab where students can prepare for clinicals, a student lounge, debriefing rooms, offices, a work room and health assessment labs. The complete renovation and second floor, which will host spaces for student wellness, collaborative research and student affairs and marketing, are estimated to be complete in 2025.
“We are incredibly excited to see our vision come to life with this expansion,” said Dr. Barbara K. Haas, School of Nursing dean. “Every aspect of this project was designed with the student experience in mind. This state-of-the-art facility will provide our students with the resources and environment they need to excel in their education and future careers.”
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.