Misericordia University has a 7,575 square foot, custom designed Physician Assistant educational facility within the Trocaire Building on its main campus. Key features of this space include a dedicated Physician Assistant didactic year classroom with state-of-the-art “smart-technology,” an open-floor-plan physical assessment and procedural skills lab with eleven examination areas, four private physical examination rooms which may be used for refining examination skills or objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), a PA student study area, and private offices for all PA program faculty and staff.

Converting a building that once served as a residence for the Sisters of Mercy alongside a small on-campus chapel for the sisters, hc architects modified the existing structure and added a large two-story glass vestibule that allowed the building to coordinate architecturally with other existing structures on campus. The Trocaire Building gives a fresh new look to the family of Misericordia academic buildings by utilizing a soothing palette that is both popular and effective in the healthcare facilities that the future Pas will call work home. The re-working of an existing structure to fit specific design criteria is always a challenge; despite the difficulty, the hc architects team, along with hands-on input from end users, collaborated to create a space that is functional and unique while at the same time keeping true to the Misericordia brand and aesthetic. State-of-the-art teaching labs, classrooms, and exam rooms blend seamlessly with faculty offices and shared public spaces to give future Physician Assistant graduates a solid foundation on which to build their healthcare career.