[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/SusanBirnie.jpg” caption=”Susan Birnie”]Filing cabinets, desks and computers from the School of Rehabilitation Science are being moved into the new Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences this week. It is expected that staff will relocate there next week.

The four-storey, 168,000 sq. ft. building is located on the southwest corner of the campus, adjacent to the site of the former teachers' college. Commencing this fall, the new institute will house some 1,300 full-time and 5,000 part-time students from both McMaster and Mohawk who will study nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, medical imaging technology and various other certificate and continuing education programs in health sciences.

Susan Birnie, administrator for the School of Rehabilitation Science, is undeterred by the stress of moving. “I am very pleased that we finally have a permanent home to celebrate the school's tenth anniversary.”

The concept of the institute was conceived from the need to find space for health sciences programs. McMaster needed a permanent home for its School of Rehabilitation Science, and Mohawk needed a new premise for its health sciences programs.

In addition to sharing a building, the post-secondary institutions have agreed to develop joint educational initiatives, including opportunities in applied research and technology development.

Mohawk's Faculty of Health Sciences will make their move from the Chedoke campus of the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation in August.

The provincial government provided nearly $26 million in funding for the project.