CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay State University held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for construction of the Health Professions Building, one of the newest additions to the university’s campus. At 114,600 square feet, it will also be the largest academic building on campus.

The new building will increase the number of graduates from the university’s health professions program. It will be located on Eighth Street between College Street and Marion Street and is projected to be open in the fall of 2025.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

In the fall of 2025, Austin Peay State University students will likely take classes and help local community members in an impressive new campus showpiece – an iconic, glass and brick Health Professions Building. (Contributed)

In the fall of 2025, Austin Peay State University students will likely take classes and help local community members in an impressive new campus showpiece – an iconic, glass and brick Health Professions Building.

Dr. Maria Cronley speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Dr. Michael Licari speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Tennessee State Representative Curtis Johnson speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Tennessee State Senator Bill Powers speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Rosalind Kurita speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Kris Phillips speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building on Aug. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

“The Health Professions Building is a transformational building for us on campus,” said APSU President Dr. Michael Licari. “It allows to bring together all of our health-oriented academic programs into a state-of the-art facility that’s going to launch these students right into the workforce, it’s just fantastic,” Licari said.

The facility will also consolidate the many academic health programs on campus at one site. This will include APSU’s School of Nursing and the departments of Health and Human Performance, Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Psychology, Radiology Technology and Social Work.

The building will offer academic, laboratory and collaboration spaces, state-of-the-art simulation labs that mimic real healthcare settings, outdoor meeting and wellness areas and public-facing clinics for student learning and public patient care.