“We have a few water features in the stairwells whenever it rains,” said Radniecki, an assistant professor of dentistry.

The dental school is buzzing over the new place. Second-year dental student Kevin Reardon said that on his first day of orientation last year, Latta announced that a new building would come to fruition. Up to that point, new dental students had only heard rumors.

“We’re all super excited about it,” said Reardon of Elmhurst, Illinois. “It will be so awesome to have the beautiful school to match the excellence of the program.”

Latta said the new building will enable the school to increase first-year dental enrollment from 85 students to 115. He said he also will increase his full-time-equivalent faculty members from 70 to 90.

He said Creighton has received $51 million in donations and grants for the building and is still fundraising. Short-term financing paid with the enrollment growth will cover the balance.

The federal Health Resources and Service Administration reported three years ago that there was a shortage of 7,300 dentists in the United States. The American Dental Association, however, said the dentist shortage is complex and requires further study.