Ontario, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) October 23, 2008 - It's a legitimate and loaded question. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of people in older age groups, with much greater than average health care needs, will grow faster than the total population between 2006 and 2016.
As businesses scramble to provide suitable solutions, a school in Ontario has taken an atypical approach.
The American Career College (ACC) campus in Ontario is not your standard vocational school; the new multi-million dollar facility is a stunning architectural piece literally steps away from the freeway. To meet the nation's population growth and produce a compassionate army of qualified medical professionals, the school has leveraged smart design to its advantage and enrollment has multiplied.
"Design matters," exclaims ACC President and CEO David Pyle. "In Ontario, student satisfaction has surged along with the number of qualified instructors applying to teach there. Maintenance expenses have decreased and a sense of permanence has been created with a high tech facility, purpose built for our curriculum."
In a community dealing with the effects of "brain drain," a term coined by Ontario Economic Development Director, Mary Jane Olhasso, permanence is paramount.
The Approach: Commission a student-centric, design forward building. Use inexpensive materials such as tilt-up concrete panels, in a fresh and creative manner. Use freeway-close architecture as a billboard for marketing and branding. Challenge archetypal vocation school models with creative solutions and innovation. Provide quality educational experiences to produce the highest amount of qualified graduates, ready to enter the medical field.
The Reason: According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Health care will generate three million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry. Seven of the twenty fastest growing occupations are health care related. The median age of registered nurses is increasing, and not enough younger workers are replacing them. As a result, employers in some parts of the country are reporting difficulties in attracting and retaining nurses.
The Students: The health care industry provides many job opportunities for people without specialized training beyond high school. Many of the students at the ACC fit this criterion.
The Design: Students that by and large do not attend college were given a bright and airy campus from the Higher Education design experts at California-based LPA Inc. Tilt-up concrete panels used in an imaginative manner give the building its affordable, yet classic exterior skin. Inside, designers created social space that offers comfortable, contemporary furniture, motivating graphics and soft, artificial turf.
Durable materials, finishes and fixtures stand up to constant student traffic. Earth-colored terra cotta tiles, made with recycled content, infuse an Ivy League sophistication into the entrance. Scores of glass walls provide an atmosphere of transparency so that students feel connected to their teachers, classmates and curriculum at all times. Sustainable features abound.
"Since students at the ACC undergo an intense, nine month boot camp-like educational experience, it was important to provide an environment that would produce academic pride. Since the learning process isn't limited to the classroom, the design needed to serve intellectual, social and personal needs," said LPA Design Principal, Glenn Carels. "David Pyle is incredibly passionate about this mission and he's not doing it for his ego, he's bold. He's doing it for the students and I love that. He's innovative."
"The atmosphere in the quad. You have grass, there are tables, benches, a soft color scheme... the way everything was put down is just fantastic. Everything. The grass makes it outdoorsy. It's the kind of fresh feeling that the wilderness gives. Everybody feels relaxed and ready to go back into class and learn." -- Name: Miguel Hernandez. Previous Career Path: Construction
"The new building. It's the first thing I usually bring up. In our classrooms, we have everything we need and everything works. We get first hand practice in a real world environment." -- Name: Claudia Summons. Previous Career Path: Military
"The teachers and the administrative staff. I like the fact that everyone knows each other and it's not how high school used to be, where you wouldn't know anybody. The family environment here gives a really comfortable feeling and that's what helps get me through." -- Name: Moises Gutierrez. Previous Career Path: Sales
"The space. We're not all crammed into a little classroom and we have room to move around … We have two separate labs, wet and dry, and I think that is how it should be. To separate the two, to know what we're doing and how we're doing it … My grades have gone up since we've moved here." -- Name: Kayliegh Galoegos. Previous Career Path: Warehouse Assistant
As the Ontario campus nears capacity, plans are underway for a twin campus on an adjoining lot along the 10 Freeway. If word of mouth referrals have been consistently pouring in, just imagine the effect of two mirroring campuses. Our guess? Ample buzz from design that matters, commitment to community, transparency, and higher education for a second chance at a fulfilling life.