As part of a $100 million plan to expand its facilities for academic programs in health and science, Marist University in Poughkeepsie plans to build a new 100,000-square-feet Science and Health building connecting with the existing building to form a 150,000-square-feet Science and Health Complex on its 240-acre campus.
Interdisciplinary design firm HGA, which has 12 offices nationwide, is leading the design of Marist’s new facility. HGA’s previous work includes: a biomedical research center for the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University; teaching and research labs at Dartmouth College; and an integrated health sciences facility at Lehigh University.
“This is a long term investment in Marist’s academic strength, momentum, and purpose,” said Marist University President Kevin C. Weinman.
Marist is positioning itself as major player in educating environmental scientists, chemists, microbiologists, physician assistants, registered nurses, physical therapists and other professions in science and health care.
Marist is seeking required approvals from Poughkeepsie for the new building and hopes to be able to break ground for the construction this fall with the facility opening during the 2028-29 academic year.
Marist points out that degrees in health professions and related programs are now the second most awarded bachelor’s degrees in the U.S., and that health care jobs are among the fastest-growing sectors, representing 63% of all new jobs created in January 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The National Center for Education Statistics said that at the top were 375,400 bachelor’s degrees in business awarded at the end of the last scholastic year representing 18.6% of all bachelor’s degrees awarded followed by health professions making up 13% of the total, or 263,700 degrees.
The university said it has started taking necessary steps to add a new nursing curriculum, pending state approval, in addition to a physics major that would lead into engineering programs in collaboration with other universities.
Marist recently expanded its collaboration with Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Northern Dutchess Hospital, now part of Northwell Health, giving students access to hands-on clinical experiences across more than 1,000 health care locations including 28 hospitals.
The university says laboratories in the new building will give students hands-on experience with the tools, technologies, and environments they will encounter in their careers.
