Transforming a Former Factory Into a State-of-the-Art Dental Education Environment
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s mission is to improve the oral health of the people of Texas and the greater El Paso community. The University is focused on the unique oral and overall health care needs of the border populations and demonstrating excellence in education, research, and patient care.
The new state-of-the-art Dental Learning Center includes the renovation of approximately 40,562 SF of a former factory into a state-of-the-art clinical environment. It provides the clinical aspects for the undergraduate dentistry program including a General Practice Clinic, Multi-purpose Clinic and a Faculty Practice Clinic. The new facility houses a dental clinic with 130 operating stations, dental simulation labs, support spaces, student spaces with lounges and lockers, and administrative offices.
Kahler Slater partnered with BRW Architects to design the project.
“I’ve said it many times: When we opened, we have the most innovative curriculum and technology in the United States and Canada, using symptom-based, case-based teaching. This approach allows our students to bridge cultural barriers, delivering the highest quality of oral health care. We are also requiring that students earn credits for a public health certificate and we will be placing students in the clinic to see patients sooner than probably any other school in the nation. The clinic facility, designed by Kahler Slater, supports our curriculum and seamlessly integrates technology, enhancing patient oral health care.”Dr. Richard Black, Dean School of Dental Medicine
