University of Texas at Arlington Opens School of Social Work and Smart Hospital Building

The University of Texas at Arlington opened a $76 million health sciences facility in April of 2023 for the School of Social Work. Featuring flexible, technology-enabled learning environments, the 150,000-sf building includes teaching and research labs, study areas, and offices for faculty and staff. This dynamic nexus of interprofessional education was designed by SmithGroup to enable an innovative pedagogy that enhances collaboration between allied health disciplines. 

Abundant external and internal glazing enhances connectivity in the four-story structure, which also houses a clinical simulation center for the College of Nursing and Health Innovations. With six high-fidelity training environments and dozens of medical robots, the Smart Hospital includes:
•    A classroom set up as an apartment suite, where social work and nursing students can practice in-home services.
•    A virtual reality lab where nursing students can take mental health and clinical foundations courses in an immersive environment.
•    A simulation theater, which can be reconfigured to resemble spaces ranging from a courtroom to an inpatient suite. 
•    A counseling center with a discrete private entrance that enables social work students to work with real clients. 

Completing a new campus quad, the transformative project is strategically sited next to the Science & Engineering Innovation and Research Building. General contractor Turner Construction broke ground on the facility in February of 2021.