MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee School of Engineering is about to expand its nursing school.

MSOE President John Walz announced plans to add 2,200 square feet of space to its existing school. 

Walz says it's one way the school is addressing a critical shortage of nurses and a growing demand from students who want to become nurses. 

"As of January of this year, 2020 applications for the School of Nursing for next year's class are up 20 percent compared to last year," said Dr. Walz. "And again, last year was a record year for us."

Construction on the new addition will start in the spring and should be finished before the start of the fall 2020 semester.