Samford University will officially dedicate the new College of Health Sciences facilities on Sept. 9. The ceremony, which is open to the public, begins at 1 p.m.

Tim Vines, chair of Samford’s board of trustees, will preside at the ceremony and ribbon cutting. Speakers include Samford President Andrew Westmoreland and College of Health Sciences Vice Provost Nena F. Sanders. Other university officials, student representatives and Samford’s A Cappella Choir also will participate in the program.

The 28-acre, three-building property adjacent to the Samford campus was formerly home of Southern Progress Corp. and was purchased by Samford in late 2014 to be home to the college and its four schools: Ida Moffett School of Nursing, School of Health Professions, McWhorter School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health.

Two of the buildings span 223,000 square feet and have been renovated into state-of-the-art teaching and clinical space for the college. Time Inc, is leasing the third building from Samford.

Classes began in the facility with the start of the fall semester, and some 1,200 students in 30 academic programs utilize the space daily, according to Sanders, who also is nursing school dean.

“Through the new facilities, we are providing an innovative learning environment designed to foster interprofessional collaboration and cutting-edge experiential learning,” she said. “Our graduates are prepared to practice collaboratively, safely and effectively in the ever-evolving health-care environment.”

An open house and reception will follow the ceremony.