Isothermal Community College celebrated the groundbreaking of the Bobby F. England Health and Sciences Center in Spindale, N.C., today, marking the start of construction on the largest design-build project in North Carolina Community College System history. The $32 million, 55,000-square-foot facility will transform healthcare education in western North Carolina when it opens in October 2026.
Upon completion, the center will double ICC’s nursing program capacity from 120 to 240 students. This expansion addresses workforce gaps at Rutherford Regional Health System, AdventHealth Polk, and medical facilities throughout the region.
Moseley designed the three-story building to address critical workforce shortages in the region’s healthcare sector. The center consolidates nursing, allied health, and science programs currently housed in a 1950s-era former elementary school that lacks infrastructure for medical training.
“This will be the first new building to open on campus since 2019, and will feature the most advanced health and sciences technology available at Isothermal Community College, said Dr. Madeline Smith, vice president of strategy and operations at Isothermal Community College.
The contemporary design introduces a new architectural style to the traditional red-brick campus. Dark metal panels clad the exterior, while wood-toned soffits and a prominent balcony frame views of the adjacent lake. Windows of varying sizes punctuate the facade and reveal activity within.
“While we typically design buildings that respond to their campus context, Isothermal Community College saw the Health and Sciences Building as something more transformative—an opportunity to signal a new era. We explored everything from materials that matched the existing campus to palettes that deliberately pushed beyond established norms. The college ultimately embraced the bold choice: a forward-looking design that stands apart and embodies their vision for the future,” said Suzanne McDade, managing principal at Moseley.
Inside, simulation labs replicate hospital environments for medical surgery, pediatric care, and intensive care training. An ambulance simulator module prepares emergency responders for real-world scenarios. A walk-in clinic with two examination rooms serves both students and community members. Chemistry, biology, and microbiology labs support cross-disciplinary learning.
Design challenges included navigating a hillside site that slopes in two directions and balancing access for multiple user groups—students, clinic patients, and service vehicles. The building’s two wings face north and south to connect previously disparate areas of campus while maximizing lake views from classrooms and common areas.
The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $30 million for the project in its 2023-25 budget. Private donors contributed an additional $1.7 million, with gifts ranging from $75 to $1 million. The facility honors Dr. Bobby F. England, who served Rutherford County as a physician for 54 years and advocated for healthcare education throughout his career.
Design-Build Partnership
Close collaboration between Moseley, Whiting-Turner Construction Company, and Isothermal Community College drove the project’s success. Whiting-Turner participated in the design process from the advanced planning phase. The design-build team met three times weekly, while Moseley held additional weekly design meetings with the college. In-person workshops facilitated rapid feedback and decision-making. This intensive collaboration kept the project on schedule without delays, despite disruptions from Hurricane Helene. From the start of schematic design in October 2024 to today’s groundbreaking, the team completed the design in just nine months.
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