SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) celebrated a major milestone in its commitment to healthcare education on June 17 with a groundbreaking ceremony for a $55 million project to relocate the School of Health and Patient Simulation to Scibelli Hall, also known as Building 2.
Federal, state, and local officials and stakeholders joined STCC leaders, faculty, and staff at Scibelli Hall to commemorate the beginning of renovations that will create a new home for more than 20 healthcare degree and certificate programs, as well as the college’s nationally accredited SIMS Medical Center.
During the ceremony, speakers highlighted the importance of the investment in strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce and ensuring students have access to modern, state-of-the-art learning environments. The event concluded with participants taking a ceremonial swing with a sledgehammer at a mock wall at Scibelli Hall.
The groundbreaking also marked a significant milestone in the tenure of STCC President John Cook, who has championed the project for years and worked closely with elected officials and state leaders to secure funding and move the initiative forward. The healthcare relocation project has been one of Cook’s top priorities during his decade-long presidency. He is stepping down at the end of June.
“The School of Health relocation project has been the highest priority in our campus master plan since 2019,” Cook said. “As we celebrate today a $55 million project, it is a testament to the value of our effort to ensure such vital programs have the classrooms, labs, equipment, and technology needed to ensure those do endure and persist.”
Among those participating in the ceremony were Cook, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Sen. Adam Gómez, and Michael Knapik, chair of the STCC board of trustees.
“The importance of providing hands-on training that will help meet the needs of today’s workforce cannot be understated, and STCC has been leading that effort for decades,” Neal said. “As President Cook prepares for his next chapter in higher education, today’s announcement is a fitting tribute to all that he’s accomplished during his time at STCC. His focus has remained the same: providing high-quality, accessible education to students from all walks of life. It is because of his efforts that thousands of students have garnered the skills needed to build meaningful careers, support their families, and make lasting contributions to their communities.”
Added Gómez, “this project represents a meaningful investment in Springfield, our students, and the future of healthcare across Western Massachusetts. STCC has long served as a gateway to opportunity for residents throughout our region, and the modernization of the School of Health and Patient Simulation will provide students with the state-of-the-art facilities and training environments needed to prepare for in-demand healthcare careers. By strengthening our workforce pipeline and expanding access to high-quality education, we are investing in healthier communities and a stronger regional economy.”
Sarno thanked state leaders for the investment and the MassMutual Foundation for the philanthropic gift. He also applauded STCC’s leadership team. “I commend and thank President John Cook and the team at Springfield Technical Community College for bringing this cutting-edge health science educational tool to our Springfield community. STCC continues to be a great partner to Springfield and remains focused on education and training for a competitive regional workforce and meeting the needs of our community.”
Added Knapik, “this is an historic day for our campus as we celebrate today’s groundbreaking, which is the culmination of a great deal of hard work to advance instruction and learning for the next generation of students within our new School of Health and Patient Simulation — a partnership of the Commonwealth, STCC, and our donors and students. The board of trustees is grateful to the members of Springfield’s legislative delegation and the Healey-Driscoll administration for their extraordinary support for STCC and for making this day possible.”
The $55 million relocation project is funded through a combination of state, institutional, and philanthropic support, including $38 million from the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, $11.5 million from STCC board of trustees, $500,000 from the STCC Foundation, and $1 million from the MassMutual Foundation. The remaining funding comes from STCC’s capital budget. Officials set an estimated completion date of winter 2027-28.
The investment will support the relocation of healthcare programs from Building 20, an aging facility constructed in 1941 that has exceeded its useful life and required costly emergency repairs over the years.
The School of Health and Patient Simulation offers more than 20 associate degree and certificate programs and several shorter-term credentials. Approximately 500 students earn healthcare credentials through STCC each year. Students can choose from a range of programs, from nursing, dental hygiene, and physical and occupational therapy to surgical technology and radiology. The school also offers an open-admission health science degree with embedded certifications.
Students have access to the SIMS Medical Center, one of only a handful of nationally accredited simulation centers in the state, which features state-of-the-art patient simulators that mimic biological functions and physiological responses. An innovations lab features 3D printing and design, virtual reality training tools to create realistic patient scenarios in a safe environment.
The School of Health and Patient Simulation employs more than 120 faculty and staff and serves as a key contributor to the education, training, and workforce needs of the region’s healthcare industry.
College leaders said the relocation will enhance the student experience, expand opportunities for hands-on learning, and help meet growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals across Western Mass.
