Isothermal Community College, Bobby F. England Health and Sciences Center

Spindale
,
North Carolina
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Responding to the critical healthcare workforce shortage in western North Carolina, Isothermal Community College (ICC) is constructing a transformative new facility that represents the largest design-build project in North Carolina Community College System history. The Dr. Bobby F. England Health and Sciences Building addresses a decades-long need while establishing a bold new architectural identity for the college.

Strategic Response to Regional Needs

The rural nature of western North Carolina has historically challenged the region's ability to recruit and retain healthcare workers. ICC's nursing and allied health programs previously operated from a repurposed 1950s elementary school that lacked the technical infrastructure required for modern healthcare education. The college's science programs—chemistry, biology, and microbiology—similarly functioned in spaces not designed for their specialized requirements.

The new 55,000-square-foot facility consolidates these programs under one roof, creating purpose-built environments that maximize educational effectiveness and promote interdisciplinary learning. Students will train in advanced simulation laboratories featuring medical surgery, pediatric medical surgery, and intensive care unit environments, alongside specialized spaces including an emergency medical services lab with ambulance simulator. The building also houses a functional two-patient clinic that serves both educational and community healthcare needs.

Architectural Vision

ICC deliberately chose to break from the traditional red brick vernacular of their campus, commissioning a contemporary yet timeless design that serves as a new gateway to the college. The building's sleek, dark exterior and dynamic two-wing form create a striking hilltop presence visible throughout campus—symbolizing what college leadership describes as a "beacon of hope" for the community.

Rather than mimicking a sterile hospital environment, the design emphasizes a humanistic approach. Calming blue interiors reflect ICC's brand identity while abundant natural light and a prominent lake-facing balcony provide access to nature. The building's varied window sizes create visual intrigue while offering glimpses into learning spaces, encouraging prospective students to envision themselves within these environments.

Educational Innovation

The facility features comprehensive simulation technology designed to provide real-world healthcare training. Advanced audiovisual systems enable instructors and physicians to review student interactions with sophisticated simulation mannequins capable of performing diverse symptoms and critical care scenarios. These capabilities, combined with simulated oxygen and vacuum systems, hospital-grade equipment, and autoclaves, create an authentic clinical learning environment.

Specialized spaces include a mock residential apartment where emergency medical services students practice navigating home emergency scenarios, and an anatomical table in the microbiology lab—a digital platform that simulates detailed human anatomy for enhanced learning visualization. The building also incorporates covered outdoor spaces for commuting students and multipurpose rooms that can be combined for community events.

Collaborative Design Process

The project benefited from an intensive collaborative approach, with weekly client meetings and three-times-weekly coordination sessions with the design-build team. This frequent engagement, often conducted in person to better gauge client reactions and feedback, enabled rapid decision-making without schedule delays. Healthcare consultant Swain Associates provided specialized programming expertise, facilitating discussions between faculty and designers to ensure optimal space allocation and equipment specification.

Close collaboration between the design team and design-build partner Whiting-Turner Construction, who participated from advanced planning through completion, proved essential to meeting the project's accelerated timeline.

Community Impact

Upon completion in October 2026, the facility will double ICC's nursing program capacity from 120 to 240 students, significantly expanding the region's healthcare workforce pipeline. The building serves multiple constituencies: students benefit from modern training environments, the community gains access to clinic services, and regional healthcare systems—including Rutherford Regional Health System and AdventHealth Polk—receive better-prepared healthcare professionals.

The project represents an investment in the local economy through regional subcontractors and suppliers while positioning ICC as a more competitive institution capable of attracting students and faculty. Most importantly, it generates excitement about healthcare careers in a region that has struggled to retain young professionals.

Legacy

Named in honor of Dr. Bobby F. England—a physician, educator, and civic leader who served the region for over five decades—the building embodies ICC's commitment to improving lives through learning. When completed, it will stand as the first new campus building since 2019 and feature the most advanced health and sciences technology in the college's history.

This project transcends traditional educational construction by creating a genuine community asset that addresses workforce development, provides healthcare services, and establishes ICC as a more visible institution. The building's hilltop position and contemporary design signal a new era for the college while maintaining its deep commitment to serving the educational and economic needs of western North Carolina.

Client
  • Isothermal Community College
Size
  • 55,000 square feet
Awards

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Key Leaders

Daniel

Whitmire

Design Principal
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Steven

Cooke

Structural Engineering Operations Manager
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Josh

Landis

Plumbing Engineering Operations Manager
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