Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education

Sorrell Center offers state-of-the-art educational environment

The Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education serves as the gateway to the UNMC campus and home to the UNMC College of Medicine.

This new College of Medicine facility brings together educational components, student support services and faculty offices into one building.

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, this facility will enhance the educational experience for UNMC students today, and for generations to come. UNMC will continue to graduate the very best health professionals who will serve Nebraska and beyond.

Privately funded, this facility was made possible through the generosity of many individuals and foundations, including nine principal benefactors and more than 1,000 UNMC alumni from across Nebraska and the United States.

The building is named in honor of Michael F. Sorrell, M.D., a legendary physician, researcher and administrator who has left his mark on UNMC since joining the academic health sciences center in 1971. The decision for this name was made by Omahans Ruth and Bill Scott, who made the largest donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the $52.7 million building. The Scotts also donated the funding for a Student Plaza, which issurrounded by the four colleges on the UNMC Omaha campus -- medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health -- and the School of Allied Health Professions. For the first time ever, UNMC will have the look and feel of a traditional college campus.

Features of the Sorrell Center include:  

  • wireless technology throughout; 
  • smart classrooms featuring interactive technology; 
  • a clinical skills center where students can learn communications skills and practice clinical decision-making in a safe, simulated environment; 
  • innovative technology and teaching laboratories equipped with virtual microscopy and a flexible design that enables students to interact with the latest most advanced technology; 
  • small group instruction rooms that can support problem-based learning; 
  • small and large amphitheaters; 
  • a large interactive space featuring student lounges, study areas and other student-oriented amenities; 
  • a campus events center which will provide a setting for campus, alumni and community events and create an environment for the lifelong learning so critical for today's health professionals; 
  • beautifully landscaped green space around the facility where student and campus interactions can take place.

 

Below: Watch a timelapse of the Sorrell Center construction

 

Sorrell Center: By the Numbers

Location:
Northeast corner of 42nd and Emile Streets

 

Cost:
$52.7 million (funded entirely by private donations)

 

Size:
134,183-square-foot, four-level building

 

Building materials:
Cast-in-place concrete building with limestone, brick and glass curtain walls. Like Durham Research Center.


10,700 cubic yards of concrete – (10 paved football fields)
95,000 sq. ft. of shoring
80,000 sq. ft. of foamwork
22,800 sq. ft. of glass
14,000 sq. ft. of metal panel
14,000 sq. ft. of brick
10,000 lbs. of marker board

Courtesy of Kiewit Building Group and UNMC Facilities Management and Planning

 

Energy efficient:
Certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a voluntary national standard for high performance, sustainable buildings.

 

Unique Landscaping:
Greenway extends from 42nd to 40th Street. Includes quiet study/interactive areas and student plaza with ice rink and an architectural/artistic feature.

 

Skywalk:
Spans 42nd Street and connects to fourth floor of Wittson Hall.