A group of Westmoreland students received a private tour of the Mohawk Valley Health System’s (MHVS) new Wynn Hospital in Downtown Utica on November 8.
The long-awaited and up-close look at the hospital was the reward for the students’ efforts and participation in MVHS’ “Build Your Own Hospital” engineering challenge in March 2021.
Hisa Zhu, project executive for the new hospital, led the students on the tour. The students, donning hard hats and other safety equipment, were able to meet and speak with architects, engineers, interior designers and managers.
For the challenge, the students – then in fifth and sixth grade – were tasked with using common household items to build a hospital containing a main entrance, ambulance/emergency department entrance, helipad, patient tower, greenspace and signage. The challenge, with a special focus on women in construction, was open to students in grades K-8.
The group of Westmoreland students who assembled the hospital – and went on the tour – featured all girls from the Zone for Imagination, Innovation and Inspiration (Zi3) Club and Fifth Grade Enrichment Group. The students are:
Breana Bulger; Alina Kulpa; Julianna Otis; Madison Robinson; Isabella Smith; Jenna Smith; Emma Szarek; and Kylie Young.
The Wynn Hospital, which is still under construction, is scheduled to open in late 2023.