Puget Sound Skills Center's new Health Services Building opens Fri., Sept. 22

How many new high school buildings have a working dental lab, a hospital ward with eight beds, and a medical laboratory with a centrifuge and cell incubators? There is a brand new one in Burien – and it will be celebrating its Grand Opening on Friday, Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.
Medical and dental students at the Puget Sound Skills Center will open the doors to real-life work experiences in a brand new Health Sciences Building.
The Washington State Legislature funded this state-of-the-art facility in its 2015-2017 capital budget. Thanks to state funding and important partnerships, the new facility expands health career opportunities for high school students across four school districts.
The grand opening will be celebrated in the new building’s auditorium on Friday, September 22 at 9 a.m. Speakers will include state Senator Karen Keiser and Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield. Student-led tours will follow. Click here to RSVP.
New Biomedical Research Program Partners with Seattle Children’s Research Institute
High school juniors and seniors can enroll in a new biomedical research and teaching program in partnership with Seattle Children’s Research Institute. The new space also doubles the number of students who can be certified as nursing assistants or start the path to becoming dental assistants.
“This is a great opportunity for students to get training in a growing career field,” said Dr. Thomas Mosby, executive director of career pathways and partnerships for Highline Public Schools. “We want to thank lawmakers for expanding opportunities for students to enter healthcare careers.”
Building Featured in Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
The architect collaborated with industry experts to simulate a real-life work environment for learning. Read more in an article in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce spotlighting the modern school building, designed by Hutteball & Oremus Architecture.
The two-story building has nearly 27,000 square feet of space that includes:

• 250-seat lecture hall
• Adjacent multipurpose room with sliding glass wall, that can seat an additional 200 people
• High-tech dental lab with four operatories, panoramic camera room, sterilization room and stone lab with funding from Washington Dental Service
• Working dental clinic operated by Sea Mar Community Health Center, where PSSC students will have opportunities for internships in a real-life setting
• State-of-the-art nursing lab with eight practice beds
• Biomedical lab with professional lab equipment
• Classrooms and open space for each program

About PSSC
PSSC is one of 20 skills centers in Washington state offering high-quality, tuition-free, technical and professional training. Operated by Highline Public Schools, PSSC serves students from 22 partner high schools in Highline, Federal Way, Tukwila and Tahoma school districts.
In 2016, students taking classes at PSSC earned more than 2,000 college credits and almost 1,700 industry certifications in 18 different programs including aerospace manufacturing, animation, automotive technology, information technology, culinary arts and more.
Funded by State, Not Local Bond
The Highline capital facilities team managed the construction of the new PSSC health sciences building. The $19.4 million project was fully funded by the state with no impact on the school district’s capital fund.
Apprentices Build 15%
Industry apprentices built 15 percent of the new building. Apprentices worked with glass, sheet metal, electronic technology, carpentry, acoustics, taping and electrical systems. One of PSSC’s own carpentry students, 2015 graduate Pedro Montoya, helped build the new facility.
The health sciences building stands south of the existing facility at PSSC on property that was already owned by Highline Public Schools.
Event Details:

WHEN:  Friday, September 22: 9 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:  Puget Sound Skills Center, Health Sciences Building, 18010 8th Avenue South, Burien
SPEAKERS:

• Todd Moorhead, Principal, PSSC
• Sen. Karen Keiser, Washington State Legislature
• Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent, Highline Public Schools
• Dr. Thomas Mosby, Executive Director of Career Pathways and Partnerships, Highline Public Schools
• Bill Chaput, Principal Architect, Hutteball & Oremus Architecture

]]>