Innovation Center for Science and Health

Opportunity, innovation, collaboration – all are key to shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, in partnership with the University of Evansville, is launching the Innovation Center for Science and Health, a transformative space that will unite high school and college students in a hands-on, simulated healthcare environment.

This adaptive reuse project will revitalize the former Welborn Clinic site, strategically located near Deaconess Clinic and the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences. It will anchor what is quickly becoming downtown Evansville’s emerging “medical campus.” The Innovation Center will serve as a collaborative hub for students from EVSC’s Academy for Science and Medicine, the Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center, University of Evansville health science programs, as well as educators and local healthcare professionals.

The facility’s exterior draws inspiration from its neighbors, incorporating expansive glass panels, warm natural tones and metal detailing. Inside, functionality, flexibility and innovation are key to the center’s design. There are not only dedicated spaces for each program, but also spaces that accommodate all three, such as common areas like lounge and study spaces, a virtual anatomy lab, OR simulation lab, flexible classrooms, a physical therapy lab and more. A unified color palette is used throughout the shared spaces, while distinctive branding is emphasized in each program’s designated areas, offering cohesion while preserving identity. Wall graphics further enhance the design and support wayfinding.

Open ceilings with exposed mechanical systems and sealed concrete flooring add to the building’s sleek, tech-forward feel. Bold starburst light fixtures add personality and energy while metal partitions help define spaces without closing them off, maintaining a sense of openness and connectivity across programs.

The Innovation Center will create direct college-career pathways for EVSC students and further strengthen EVSC and UE’s partnership in building our healthcare workforce of the future.