Northern Kentucky University recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new $97 million-Health
Innovation Center. The Highland Heights center will be the first new academic building built on campus since Griffin Hall, home of the College of Informatics, was completed in October 2011.

When the center opens in 2018, it will be home to NKU’s College of Health Professions. The facility will allow NKU to expand existing academic programs and add new ones. The project includes building a new facility and renovating Founders Hall, which is the second-oldest academic building at the university. Last year, the Kentucky General Assembly allocated $97 million for the project. St. Elizabeth Healthcare also has invested $8 million to equip the building with a twostory virtual care environment that will provide students experience and training across the continuum of care. A committee of business and healthcare leaders from around the region has been contributing to plans for the center since 2014.