Old Dorm Comes Down for Big Upgrade

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Mobile Rundown Staff

Walsh Hall, once a freshman dorm at Spring Hill College, is coming down to make space for something much bigger. 

Demolition started this week, and the site is being cleared to build the brand-new Health and Science Innovation Center.

After years of sitting vacant, Walsh Hall is making way for a future-forward facility that’s set to change how science and health students learn on The Hill. 

The old building is expected to be completely gone within a week.

A Big Step Toward a New Science Hub

The new building will be a 57,000-square-foot space packed with classrooms and labs for nursing, pre-med, natural sciences, and health sciences.

This isn’t just a classroom building—it’s being built with the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals in mind. 

Think advanced equipment, modern layouts, and hands-on learning baked into every floor.

Once construction begins, expect to see things go vertical around August or September, following some foundational prep work.

A groundbreaking ceremony is already being planned for late summer.

A $35 Million Boost for the Future

The project is getting a major financial lift thanks to a $35 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 

That’s a big national investment in a local institution—and a clear vote of confidence in what Spring Hill College is building.

On top of that, both the City of Mobile and Mobile County chipped in $750,000 each, showing strong community support for the new center. 

It’s a combined effort, pulling together federal and local backing to create something lasting.

Classrooms Set to Open in 2027

Students won’t have to wait forever to step inside. If construction stays on schedule, the new Health and Science Innovation Center will open for classes in spring 2027.

That timeline gives the school enough space to get everything right—from the labs and lecture halls to the power lines and plumbing. 

By the time it opens, it’ll be ready for students to dive straight into the work.

Incoming freshmen in 2026 might be the first to sit in those new classrooms. And once the doors open, the ripple effects are likely to be felt far beyond the college itself.

A Campus Shift With Long-Term Impact

The demolition of Walsh Hall marks more than the end of an old dorm—it’s the start of a shift in campus priorities.

Investing in science and health programs means expanding what Spring Hill College can offer in careers that are growing fast.

It also adds momentum to broader efforts across the area to invest in education, healthcare, and workforce readiness. 

The center won’t just change how students learn—it’ll shape where they go next.

And for a college that’s been around since 1830, it shows there’s still plenty of room to grow.

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