McLane donation benefits renovation of Baylor nursing school in Dallas

A gift from Drayton and Elizabeth McLane and their family will enable Baylor University to begin renovating the former Baptist Building in Dallas for Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing. (File Photo)

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WACO—A gift from Drayton and Elizabeth McLane and their family will enable Baylor University to begin renovating the former Baptist Building in Dallas for Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

The gift from McLane, a regent emeritus, and his family supports the $18 million project, which will triple the space of the current nursing school campus in Dallas. Active fund-raising continues to secure the total amount needed to complete the project. The anticipated completion date for construction is fall 2018.

Baylor University purchased the building, which formerly housed the offices of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff and Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, with the help of a lead gift from Louise “Lou” Herrington Ornelas.

“Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing is well-known for its excellence in preparing nurses and healthcare professionals who heed the calling to learn, lead and serve,” Baylor Interim President David Garland said.

“The renovation of this space—located in the heart of Dallas’ healthcare community—will allow the School of Nursing to continue to expand its influence in nursing education, build upon its commitment to strategic partnerships within the community and prepare leaders for whom the health professions are both a vocation and a ministry. We are grateful to the McLane family for their generous gift to support this important project.”

atrium 400This conceptual drawing pictures the atrium of the renovated building.The renovation will add 111,000 square feet of expanded space to the Louise Herrington School of Nursing for active-learning classrooms, student services, a new auditorium and offices for faculty and administration. The current nursing school building, which spans 46,500 square feet, will be used primarily for graduate students and research.

“The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is grateful to expand into the Baptist General Convention of Texas building with its rich Texas Baptist heritage,” said Shelley Conroy, dean of the School of Nursing.

“We express our gratitude to the generous donors and our supportive Baylor board of regents who believe in the unique mission of LHSON to prepare caring Christian nurses who go out to serve locally and globally.”

For nearly 30 years, McLane served on the boards of both Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, which merged in 2013 to form Baylor Scott & White Health. He also served more than 14 years as chair of the board of trustees, including for two years after the merger of the health care organizations.


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“Our family has been very committed to Baylor University because of its Christian commitment to higher education and also to health care, and this is why we were interested in helping with a gift that will begin the building renovation for Baylor’s outstanding Louise Herrington School of Nursing,” McLane said. “We are hopeful that many other alumni of Baylor University will want to assist in creating a brighter future for health care.”

 


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