Alumni, students provide high-tech preview of Joan Secchia Children's Rehabilitation Hospital using VR

Above: Philanthropist Joan Secchia views a virtual tour of the future Joan Secchia Children's Rehabilitation Hospital during a groundbreaking ceremony on August 15 with help from GVSU student Ruth Yeboah. The tour was designed by GVSU alumni, students, faculty and staff.

A group of Grand Valley alumni, faculty, students and staff brought a view into the future of downtown Grand Rapids to the August 15 groundbreaking for the Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital .

Following the formal groundbreaking, hundreds of guests were invited to “explore” the future hospital using 360-degree video in an immersive virtual experience created by GVSU alumni, guided by faculty and staff experts.

The $70 million hospital is a joint venture between Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Corewell Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. It will be Michigan’s first pediatric rehabilitation hospital when it opens in 2026.

The 360-degree computer-rendered video was created by a futurEDlab alumni team as an example of the digital literacy, emerging technology and cutting-edge skills that are central to GVSU’s Blue Dot ecosystem.

“While construction of the hospital may just be getting started in the real world, our talented alumni group was able to collaborate with the design and construction teams to create a high-impact visual experience that allows the community to experience some of what the building will look and feel like," said Eric Kunnen, senior director, IT innovation and research. “This kind of collaboration not only showcases the abilities of our talented students and the innovation capabilities we’re building with Blue Dot, it also can provide building owners and planners the chance to visually and virtually experience and improve designs in ways that can save time and money.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten and Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss joined philanthropist Joan Secchia and others on the stage at the groundbreaking, which was held across from Mary Free Bed’s Grand Rapids hospital on Wealthy Street.