Carroll University Celebrates a New Home for Health Sciences
A Dual Celebration
The recent completion of Carroll University’s School of Health Sciences called for a celebration. Our team joined students, faculty, project partners, community members, and Governor Tony Evers for a ribbon-cutting of the 65,000-square-foot renovation.
The project is phase one of a $52.5 million campus upgrade following the university’s purchase of Randall Elementary School building from the School District of Waukesha. The former school was transformed for Carroll’s growing College of Health Sciences.
The celebration also brought another exciting announcement of the institution receiving a transformational gift from alumni Dr. Daniel Von Hoff and Ann Leighton Von Hoff. In recognition of their generosity, the building has been renamed the Von Hoff College of Health Sciences. The gift aims to support the continued growth of Carroll University’s health sciences programs, including its physician assistant program and plans to develop additional in-demand health care programs.
More Space for Providing Health Services
The existing five-story Randall School was heavily renovated, including a selective demolition of existing walls, finishes, and MEPF systems. The project also included new finishes, building systems, and roofing.
Designed by the VJS architecture team, the buildout expands space for Carroll University’s Physician Assistant Studies Program, which supports the Therapeutic Abilities Clinic and Rehabilitative Exercise Clinic. This not only provides a welcoming place for students to learn, but also provides free health care services to the community delivered by students under professional supervision.
New and renovated spaces for teaching and clinical practice include TAC/CURE, clinical exercise, occupational therapy, pathology, physician assistant, and simulation labs. Additional student and administrative spaces include a student lounge, faculty and staff offices, conference rooms, a staff lounge, storage, and additional support spaces.
An “apartment” lab was also added to provide occupational therapy students with hands-on training focused on coaching patients through daily living activities.
The renovation includes the installation of updated finishes, ceilings, lighting, building systems, accessibility improvements, and associated site work.
VJS is no stranger to this building, having completed a renovation to Randall Elementary School in the mid-’90s. This has been a meaningful return to help transform this space for the next generation of learners at Carroll University.
“As demand for health care workers surges both nationally and in Wisconsin, Carroll is stepping up to meet the moment,” said Tom Pahnke, dean of the College of Health Sciences at Carroll University, in the press release announcing the project. “This renovation will allow us to train more professionals while directly supporting the health and well-being of our neighbors.”
The VJS team has also begun work on the next phase of the campus transformation in the Sullivan School of Business. The new building will be ready to welcome students in the fall of 2027.
