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College Design

The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, located at FAU's Boca Raton Campus, is a model facility that is in itself an expression of caring.  This unique building was created to help students understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of health, healing and environment.

Three sets of principles guided the design and construction of the College's home:

• The College's caring-based philosophy.
• The "Green Building" concept, based on Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Standards.
• The principles of the Chinese tradition of Feng Shui.

Caring Based Philosophy in Nursing Education

The College features state-of-the-art classrooms and learning communities that offer unique and creative environments for the study of nursing.  The building goes beyond traditional learning settings to create healing spaces that transform nursing education by embodying our philosophy of caring.

The entry of our home features The Dance of Caring Persons, an image of a circle of dancers that portrays a way of being that is grounded in respect for and valuing of each person.  For more information on The Dance, visit our College At A Glance section.

Students must know how to center themselves in order to hear the stories of those they nurse; therefore, throughout the College, there are spaces dedicated to meditation and self-renewal.  In our home, students can reflect while walking our garden's labyrinth, or spend quiet time in the "Sacred Place," a quiet austere room created for meditation.  A holistic practice area is also provided for students to explore the use of expressive arts in healing and caring for self.

The College's "Archives of Caring in Nursing" is a very special space designated to house collections of scholarly works which advance the domain of knowledge on caring.  It is the first college devoted to preserving these materials from scholars across the world.

"Green" Building

The College's caring-based philosophy extends beyond ourselves to include our environment, and the need to promote health and sustainability.  Our home exemplifies this philosophy through its very construction.

Water saving fixtures, energy efficient lighting, use of renewable natural resources, and use of low toxicity and recycled materials are just a few of the environmentally friendly techniques employed throughout the building.

In 2007, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing building was awarded LEED gold certification, the second-highest ranking possible, from the U.S. Green Building Council.  It is one of very few educational facilities in the country to achieve LEED status.

Feng Shui Principles

The use of Feng Shui throughout the College is also consistent with healing.  This Chinese practice strives to create environments in which persons feel comfortable and supported.

Attention to the five elements of Feng Shui (metal, wood, fire, water and earth) and to promoting the flow of Ch'i or positive energy was a focus of attention when developing the College's spaces.  These five elements are needed for proper balance in life and work; nursing is characterized as an earth-based or nurturing element.

The goal for the College was to create a supportive yet transformative environment for the study of nursing.  The College's spaces are arranged to create harmony and balance, and to use energy in the most positive way.