April 2026:
Northern State University invites the public to celebrate the opening of its new Business and Health Innovation Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the ribbon cutting ceremony taking place at 4 p.m. The event will conclude at 5 p.m.
The Business and Health Innovation Center is the new home for NSU’s School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences’ new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Inside, the building features advanced collaborative classrooms, the Avera Nursing Simulation Center, and dedicated spaces designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world professional experience.
The building also houses the Northern Innovation and Startup Center, a dedicated resource for entrepreneurship and regional economic development, supported by Dacotah Bank.
The facility was made possible in part through $29.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and a $1.5 million state appropriation, reflecting a significant investment from federal and state partners in the region’s workforce and economic future.
“This new facility significantly enhances student success by providing the latest in technology, simulation labs, creative innovation spaces and adaptable classroom environments that prepare our business and nursing students to move seamlessly and successfully into the workforce,” said Dr. Alan LaFave, president of Northern State University. “The large, welcoming foyer and student study spaces have already proven to be gathering places for campus events and meaningful student and faculty interaction.”
The ribbon cutting and open house are free and open to the public. The Business and Health Innovation Center is located at the corner of 12th Avenue SE and South Washington Street on the Northern State University campus in Aberdeen.
April 24, 2024:
Northern State University invites the public to a groundbreaking ceremony for its leading-edge Business and Health Innovation Center. The event will take place tomorrow (April 25, 2024) at 3 p.m. Central Time on the east side of Lincoln Hall (1200 S. Jay St., Aberdeen).
Slated for completion in late 2025, the Business and Health Innovation Center will include state-of-the-art facilities for business, banking, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, nursing and social learning spaces. It will also be home to the Innovation and Startup Center and serve as a hub for community members to directly engage with innovative business and health programming and resources.
Dr. Neal Schnoor, president of Northern, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This is a generational opportunity to address critical workforce needs in business and nursing and engage in partnerships to advance regional healthcare and economic development.”
In addition to housing innovative programs in the School of Business, Northern State University is completing development of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. The program is set to launch pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Currently, prospective nursing students can enroll in NSU’s outstanding pre-nursing courses.
“We are thrilled about the prospects this facility brings to advancing education, research, and community engagement,” remarked Dr. Mike Wanous, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northern State University.
The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone in Northern State University’s commitment to innovation, education, and community engagement.
Conceptual design image courtesy of Northern State University.
Conceptual design image courtesy of Northern State University.
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