UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s Foundation is planning a celebration to honor the former St. Luke’s School of Nursing and its graduates with the dedication and ribbon cutting of a terrace on the hospital campus.
The ceremony will be held 10:30 a.m. May 14 at St. Luke’s Hospital, 1026 A Ave., Cedar Rapids. The Terrace is on the east end of the hospital campus along A Avenue across the street from the Center for Women’s and Children’s Health.
St. Luke’s School of Nursing program closed in 1987, but its legacy has lived on in its graduates and the building, which remained on the hospital campus long after the program ended. The old nursing building on St. Luke’s campus was renamed the Resource Center in 1987. St. Luke’s School of nursing graduated 2,524 students between 1892 and the last graduating class in 1987. The building held a special place in the hearts of St. Luke’s School of Nursing alumni.
In 2020, the former nursing school building sustained significant damage in the derecho. Rather than repairing the costly damage, hospital officials made the difficult decision to demolish the building.
St. Luke’s Foundation created the terrace to commemorate the School of Nursing and its graduates. Located between St. Luke’s Hospital and the Women’s and Children’s Health Center, the terrace offers an outdoor space for patients, visitors and hospital employees.
There will be a brief program and ribbon cutting followed by light refreshments. The dedication is also part of Nurses’ Week celebration activities at St. Luke’s.
