Prisma Health powered a groundbreaking ceremony at Greenville Technical College today with a $1.5 million gift to support construction of a new building where students will pursue the education that leads them to careers in health care.

The building, which will be known as the Prisma Health Center for Health & Life Sciences, will be the hub of general education instruction as well as the center point for students in the health sciences.

The $70 million three-story structure will encompass 125,000 square feet at the heart of the Barton Campus on Pleasantburg Drive. Greenville Tech President Keith Miller said the building will impact 90% of the college’s students and welcome 150,000 visitors annually as it serves 500-600 health science graduates that enter the workforce each year.

Prisma Health, one of the state’s largest employers, hires more Greenville Tech graduates than any other organization.

Dr. Jonathan Gleason, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Prisma Health, said the new building will have a positive effect on health care throughout the state.

“The opportunity to build on this strategic partnership, to improve the health and wellness in the state of South Carolina, is the logical next step in our relationship,” Gleason, said. “I’m thrilled to be here on behalf of the Prisma Health team to share with you today that Prisma Health is deepening its partnership with Greenville Technical College.”

Prisma Health earlier this week announced a $5 million program with five state colleges to address a nursing shortage.

“We’re committed to improving the state of health in South Carolina; that’s why we’re here,” Gleason said today. “And a strong pipeline of health care workers is mission critical for us.”

The building was designed by McMillan Pazdan Smith and the builder selected is Harper General Contractors.

The building design will feature glass cutouts that allow for a look at science in action, according to a news release. It will include suites for medical imaging, ultrasound, radiological technology and other health science disciplines. An “anatomage lab” will feature virtual dissection tables with interactive, live-touch screens.

Non-classroom spaces include conversation rooms, study carrels and outside seating to encourage students to stay after class “because we know that what happens outside of the classroom is as important as what happens inside,” Greenville Tech President Keith Miller said.

“We know that now we need to create flexible and dynamic space because there are a lot of different learning styles that weren’t necessarily present 60 years ago (when the college started), or we didn’t understand it as well as we do today,” Miller said. “So we’re certainly excited to bring this building to fruition to help us address all those different learning styles.”