Rowan University’s $176 million hub for health education and innovation is coming to their West Campus, with the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine building quickly rising…and visible to travelers on Route 55.
In early September… Rowan University, Virtua Health and Elected Officials celebrated the ceremonial halfway point of the construction… By signing the final seven-foot 300 pound steel beam that was placed at the top of the 162,000 square foot facility.
I stopped over last week to capture an update on the building which in just three additional months has the large lower two-story section mostly enclosed, and significant additional construction on the four story tower has taken place.
Back in March of this year when I first wrote about plans for this new building, construction progress at that point only consisted of the underground foundation block.
Needless to say things are moving very fast!
And with thousands of commuters every day driving down Route 55 to and from work (or the Jersey Shore) the quickly rising building has gained a lot of attention from locals wondering what the building is that is rising along Route 55!
“We’re signing this beam today and, in 11 short months (8 as of today), we will have our first DVM class. That’s really extraordinary,”
Matthew Edson, founding dean of the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine (September 2024)
Announced almost a year ago, the Shreiber Veterinary School will become the first veterinary school in New Jersey, and only the second institution in the nation with three medical schools offering DVM, M.D. and D.O. degrees.
Specifically the veterinary school will be located in a 9.5 acre portion of a 255 acre property on Mullica Hill Rd (Rt 322) across from the Inspira Medical Hospital and bordered by Route 55.
The development of the school has been made possible by a variety of people and organizations including South Jersey entrepreneur Gerry Shreiber who donated $30 million to the institution to support scholarships for veterinary students.
In 2022, the New Jersey legislature approved $75 million towards the initial funding of the school. Virtua Health made a philanthropic investment of $85 million, and Rowan committed $125 million… which will create the academic health partnership to advance medical, nursing and healthcare professions in education, research and care.
Opening in August 2025 the inaugural class will welcome 70 students to campus, with enrollment expected to eventually grow to 90 students.
Applications for the inaugural class are now being accepted through December 31st.
Rowan chairman Chad Bruner stated that Rowan’s future West Campus expansion will include an advanced manufacturing hub, the new home of Rowan-Virtua Rita & Larry Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions; and a holistic wellness village.
Factor in the impressive and widely successful Inspira Hospital which opened five years ago on the other side of Route 322, and whom recently broke ground on a $240 million expansion to that hospital… this area of Route 322 at 55 is quickly becoming a hub for medical services, research and education.
Links and Location
Rowan University Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
Harrison Township