Grand Valley State University students and alumni showcased a virtual reality project for the Grand Rapids Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital at the hospital’s groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 15. GVSU alumni created the project, which helped attendees visualize the potential of the health center.
The Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital is a joint effort between the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and the Helen Devos Children’s Hospital. It will be the first rehabilitation center dedicated to pediatric care in Michigan and is set to open in 2026, according to MLive.
“Attendees at the groundbreaking thoroughly enjoyed the experience, as they became immersed (and were) able to see the exterior and interior of the hospital,” said IT Innovation and Research Senior Director Eric Kunnen.
Although the hospital’s construction has yet to begin, attendees got to experience what it will be like to walk through the building. The experience was brought to life using 10 Meta Quest headsets and 10 Apple iPads, and was made possible by GVSU alumni Ben Stenglein, Shane Belofsky and Andrew Schreur. The group created the 360-degree video with narration and animation. Executive Associate for Presidential Initiatives Elizabeth Doyle, as well as GVSU’s Office of Inclusion and Equity, Office of the President and the IT Innovation and Research team supported the group of alumni in their execution of the project.
For architects and designers, applying VR technology allows them to truly envision their enterprises. Belofsky graduated in 2024 with a degree in film and video. He said he was honored that architects shared their blueprints for the health facility with the group, and that it changed the game when it came down to actually creating the animation.
“It meant a lot that the architects trusted us with the CAD files for the hospital,” Belofsky said. “It made our jobs a whole lot easier when implementing the architectural blueprint into an environment and bringing it to life in a virtual experience.”
The alumni involved in creating the VR experience produced the animation remotely, with each of them working separately. Belofsky said this posed specific challenges when developing the final product.
“One of the most challenging parts was that we created this (the VR digital experience) all remote, and on our own separate systems,” Belofsky said. “Communication was crucial to our success on this project. We also were all working other (additional) jobs, so it was definitely a grind.”
According to Mary Free Bed, roughly 60% of Michigan children who require inpatient care receive treatment at the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids. The new pediatric center will be substantial for these children and the Michigan community.
GVSU’s contribution to the hospital’s groundbreaking is a display of the advancements the University is taking to keep up with the evolving world of technology. Kunnen said GVSU is making efforts to explore emerging technologies beyond this project, as well.
“The Atomic Object Technology Showcase in the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons offers a variety of virtual and augmented reality headsets that students, faculty and staff can experience, including Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 2 and 3, Valve Index, Microsoft HoloLens and Magic Leap,” Kunnen said.
Belofsky said he found the process of creating the VR hospital experience inspiring, and it meant a lot to him to use his education for the betterment of the city in which he received it.
“It was very fulfilling to help show off the Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital,” Belofsky said. “It is amazing to see how technology is beginning to shape the future of Grand Rapids.”
