The Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) is celebrating its new state-of-the-art Allied Health Building with a public grand-opening celebration at 4 p.m., Sept. 14.

“The new Allied Health Building is an exciting addition to our Kirkland campus,” said LWIT President Dr. David Woodall. “Its state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories simulate actual hospital settings and provide the backdrop for training that will help meet the regional demand for nursing and allied health employees. The building blends beauty, efficiency and functionality and is a tremendous asset to our college and the community.”

The new $35 million building was funded through a partnership between LWIT ($26 million) and the Washington Network for Innovative Careers (WaNIC) ($9 million), a consortium of seven K-12 school districts offering high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses.

As a component of the partnership, WaNIC’s new skills center, focused on allied health, is co-located in the new building.

“We’re very excited about this incredible state-of-the-art facility and what it will provide for our students, such as the latest cutting edge equipment in the labs,” said Pamela Darling, WaNIC Skills Center director. “This facility also allows us to expand our course offerings in high demand allied health fields, creating more opportunities for a seamless transition from high school to college for our students.”

The public event kicks off at 4 p.m. with opening remarks by LWIT President Dr. David Woodall and Northshore School District Superintendent Larry Francois.Additional special guests include Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (1st District, Bothell), John Hotta from the Lake Washington College Foundation, Gov. Gregoire’s Executive Policy Advisor Leslie Goldstein, and LWIT Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Lynette Jones.

Festivities include a ribbon-tying ceremony, tours and the dedication of the building’s colorful art installation, “Life Sign,” by artist Katy Stone.

The new 83,000-square-foot, three-story building features classrooms, laboratories, offices, clinical facilities and a lecture hall, all dedicated to allied health studies.

LWIT offers allied health programs in nursing, medical assisting, dental assisting, dental hygiene, massage, physical therapist assisting, occupational therapy assisting and funeral service education (the first in Washington State), serving more than 350 full-time students annually.

The new Allied Health Building is one of many exciting new things happening at LWIT. Earlier this year the school received state legislature approval to change its name from Lake Washington Technical College to Lake Washington Institute of Technology, reflecting the school’s growth to a comprehensive polytechnic focus, offering students many pathways to achieve career goals through certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees.

For information and news about LWIT programs, visit www.lwtech.edu.