With new laboratories and equipment ready to welcome students, Jacksonville University celebrated the completion of its Reid Medical Science Center $3 million renovation project with a ribbon-cutting Oct 3.
“The completion of the Reid Medical Science Center renovations represents a pivotal moment in Jacksonville University’s transformation into a comprehensive healthcare education hub,” JU President Tim Cost said in a news release.
“Combined with our partnership with LECOM at Jacksonville University – the region’s first four-year medical school – and partnerships with Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, Ascension St. Vincent’s, UF Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, and Florida Blue, among others, we’re creating a pathway where students can pursue their health care careers from undergraduate studies through medical school, all while serving the critical health care needs of Northeast Florida.”
Since it opened in 1990, the Reid Medical Science Center has served as home to Jacksonville University’s health care and sciences programs. The renovations support the university’s expanding nursing offerings, including the recently launched accelerated Master of Science in Nursing program – the first of its kind in the region, JU said.
“In the sciences, students are conducting research with the same advanced equipment they’ll encounter in graduate school and industry. In nursing and the health sciences, students are mastering the foundational clinical sciences while engaging in applied, hands-on learning that connects directly to their future careers," Chris Corbo, dean of the Linda Berry Stein College of Arts and Sciences, said in the release.
"These facilities not only expand what our students can achieve but also create spaces where faculty and students can collaborate closely - advancing discovery, mentorship, and innovation together,” Corbo said.
The project was funded through the state’s GROW Florida Nursing Program and completed by Auld & White Constructors with architectural services provided by kasper architects + associates.
Construction is well underway on LECOM at Jacksonville University, a four-year medical school. JU undergrads will have the opportunity to continue on as LECOM medical students, with the inaugural class arriving as planned in August 2026.