Old Des Moines University campus to get new regional simulation center

Lee Rood, Des Moines Register
·2 min read
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The Polk County Board of Supervisors, Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines Area Community College and local health care providers hope to work together to create a multi-million-dollar shared regional simulation center at Des Moines University's campus at 3200 Grand Ave.

A news conference at 1 p.m. Tuesday promises to answer at least some unanswered questions about how the university plans to use part of its large property near downtown in the heart of Des Moines after opening a new campus this year in West Des Moines.

"The investment will provide advanced health care training opportunities to health care education institutions across the region," said a Friday news release from the county. "It will also jump start the revitalized use of the 3200 Grand Ave. DMU campus facility."

Neighbors are fighting Des Moines University's plans to add 45 parking spaces on the school's campus over worries about flooding.
Neighbors are fighting Des Moines University's plans to add 45 parking spaces on the school's campus over worries about flooding.

Among those slated to appear at the news conference are DMU President Angela L. Walker Franklin; Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson; Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts; Adreain Henry, president of Mercy College of Health Sciences; and county Supervisor Angela Connolly.

After Des Moines University announced plans in spring 2019 to build an 80-acre modern campus at 8025 Grand Ave. in West Des Moines, many wondered what would happen to the existing 24-acre campus on Des Moines' west side.

The longtime health sciences institution’s relocation was disappointing for the city, but opened up a prime piece of real estate in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the metro. Franklin said the new campus was needed because the university was not able to expand at its Des Moines location, which originally was a Catholic girls school.

The old campus, where DMU maintains a clinic, has been up for sale and valued at $78.7 million, according to the Polk County assessor's office.

County Supervisors Chairman Tom Hockensmith said the county has committed $5 million in seed money toward the new simulation center at the campus' Ryan Hall, but the project will require more partners, including likely the city of Des Moines and the state. "We don't have total project cost numbers yet," Hockensmith said.

One of Polk County's priorities for its American Rescue Plan money from the federal government is health care. Hockensmith said the county wants to work with DMACC, Mercy and Des Moines public schools to address a huge shortage of health care workers.

The simulation lab would be similar to others used across the country, including at DMU, and allow students to simulate different kinds of medical procedures. It would also have remote access for rural partners, Hockensmith said.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Multimillion-dollar regional simulation center to be announced at DMU