Creating Nursing's New Academic Spaces: Making Dreams Come True

•Dean's role in design–bid–build construction process•Key personnel in decision-making throughout process•Features of approval process for construction•Use of construction alternatives to manage budgets•Architect's advice to maximize dean's effectiveness

After a description of the approval process for new construction, this article examines the design–bid–build delivery method because it is the most traditional, by defining and exploring each of the major construction phases: programming, cost estimates, preliminary design, schematic design, design development, construction drawings, bidding/negotiation, construction and, finally, move-in, and occupancy. Viewpoints of key players are examined to understand how the nursing dean in partnership with the architect shepherd nursing's dream into reality. Using a recent building project as an exemplar, Dr. Bavier shares her work as dean, and Mr. Bavier, as an architect specializing in education facilities, shares his planning and design experiences on several academic facilities. The outcome is information and guidance for deans to use their collaboration with the architect and other team members to assure a custom-tailored nursing education facility.