The McCormick Center has officially opened for the Fall 2025 semester. The updates offer numerous new opportunities for students from simulation labs to the brand new radio station. Contrary to popular belief, construction continues to persist. Control rooms on the first floor still require programming and nursing is still unpacking their department.
While a number of benefits and upgrades have come to the McCormick Center, many students have expressed frustrations with the continued construction, disorganization and confusing layout.
The building offers brand new amenities for the communications department within the Kerby Confer Media Center. This includes new editing labs, control rooms, two television studios and the new WHSK radio station. The criminal justice department also has a new updated space called The Diehl Center for Law School Preparation.
Kailey Delauter, a second year media and journalism student, as well as the manager for WHSK states, “I think that the upgrades are going to significantly help our program (media and journalism). Not just for media students, but those who have interest in media production. It’s going to help people who want to come in and learn how to work live sports events, how to do a radio show. The new equipment is going to be beneficial for students too, it’s great to learn on and it’s nice not worrying about whether or not it’s going to work.” Delauter continues by saying “There’s still programming that needs to be done, but it’s coming together.”
The education department has obtained new classrooms, and a collaboration room called “McDowell Collaborative: The Spark”. Tyler Magill and Ave Salley, both third year early education majors, mention how the building lacks proper signage. Salley claims “The building feels like a maze, and I struggle to find where I’m going.” Magill also mentions “it’s nearly impossible to navigate the building as someone who doesn’t have depth perception.” Both students agree that many classrooms don’t feel thought out, as there are tables that feel like they are “too big for the rooms” and empty spaces that feel abandoned. Salley adds “The only real benefit to education majors is that now we have a space. I can tell it’s intended to be nice, but it feels lifeless.”
The nursing simulation center consists of realistic medical rooms such as an operating room, a critical care suite and a maternity suite. There has also been the update of lifelike mannequins that talk, move and breathe. Lawrence Henry, a third year nursing student says “If you look around the building, it doesn’t seem as complete as the others on campus since they’re still working on stuff almost daily. Nursing has a lot of stuff to unpack, and we only had one staff member unpacking over the entire break.” Henry continues saying “We got a lot of new stuff, but a big portion is getting uprooted from Old Science.”
There’s still a lot to be done, however The McCormick Center is open for students and staff to utilize and learn in.
