The City of Medicine Academy's new building officially opened its doors Thursday in Durham. About 100 people attended the dedication of the academy's new facility, which prepares students for careers in the health care and science industry.

The new three-story school, located on five acres next to Durham Regional Hospital off of Duke Street, has science and health care labs where students can get hands-on experience and training for jobs in health care, research, science, and technology.

The academy's 300 students are able to participate in career exploration field trips during their freshman and sophomore year and the school offers clinical training and a paid internship program for upper classmen. All students will receive Macbooks in the spring with health and science applications for doing their homework.

"We really can do some of the work within that health and medical field, we have space to really have teachers and students collaborate around learning," said Elizabeth Shearer, principal of the academy.

The school opened to students on August 4.