SUFFERN, N.Y. — Rockland Community College officially launched construction this week on a $3 million renovation project that will create a new Nursing Simulation Lab at its Technology Building campus.
College leadership, county officials and community partners gathered Feb. 24 to mark the start of the project. Speakers included RCC President Dr. William Mullaney, Deputy County Executive Michael Hoblin, RCC Board of Trustees Chair L’Tanya Watkins, Vice Chair Dr. Dana Stilley, Dean of Nursing, Health and Wellness Sara Annunziato, and Donna Chiapperino, district director for the Office of Congressman Michael Lawler.
The renovation will transform former classroom and lab space on the second floor of the Technology Building into a dedicated simulation wing spanning nearly 5,000 square feet — about five times larger than the previous facility. The upgraded space is designed to mirror real-world clinical environments, allowing students to practice patient care in hospital-like settings. Students are expected to begin using the new lab in the Fall 2026 semester.
College officials said the expansion comes amid ongoing demand for nurses nationwide. According to remarks at the event, hundreds of thousands of registered nurse openings are projected annually over the next decade. Mullaney said the new lab will give students additional opportunities to develop clinical judgment, decision-making skills and confidence before entering hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Annunziato noted that the larger facility will allow faculty to design more complex, evidence-based simulation scenarios that emphasize patient safety, communication and professional standards. She said the goal is to ensure graduates are prepared for licensure exams and ready to enter the workforce.
The lab will feature high-fidelity simulators capable of recreating a range of medical situations, including childbirth, seizures and emergency responses. One simulator, known as “MamaAnne,” is designed to replicate labor and delivery scenarios, including potential complications that nurses must learn to manage.
With more than 515 students currently enrolled in RCC’s nursing program, officials said the expanded space will allow multiple simulations to run consecutively, increasing hands-on training opportunities in a controlled environment before students transition to clinical placements.
