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Ground broken
for $31 million in UNCP construction
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From left:
Chris Hansen, student, Neil Hawk, Vice
Chancellor for Business Affairs, Chancellor Allen C.
Meadors, Henry Lewis, Vice Chair of Board of
Trustees and Kahlid Tapia, Admissions Office
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"These are
exciting times," said UNC Pembroke Chancellor Allen C. Meadors.
And with those words,
the university broke ground June 26 on the largest construction project
in its history. Chancellor Meadors promised that "just about every
building on this campus will be touched."
Ground was broken
for three projects that will cost $31 million. UNCP will complete approximately
$75 million in construction through 2007.
The ceremony attracted
about 250 to the Amphitheatre
at the Water Feature. About 50 relatives of the building's namesakes
were on hand.
The projects include:
- $17 million for
renovation and a new laboratory wing for the Herbert G. Oxendine Science
Building. Named for a former dean of the college, Oxendine Science
was completed in 1967 and houses the departments of math and computer
science, biology and chemistry and physics.
- $9 million for
renovation and addition of classrooms and offices for the English
E. Jones Health and Physical Education Center. Named for Chancellor
Jones (1962-79) Jones was built in 1972.
- $5 million for
the new Walter J. Pinchbeck Facilities Planning and Maintenance Complex.
The Pinchbeck building was named for a long-time maintenance supervisor.
The Oxendine Science
Building project is the most costly construction project in university
history.
 "This
campus will be totally changed, but the mission and the heart of this
university will not change," Chancellor Meadors said.
Visitors to campus
witnessed numerous other ongoing construction projects, including new
sidewalks, new student apartments, a new wing on the Student Health
Services Building and renovations to the Ira Pate and Reba Lowery Bell
Tower, which played music before and after the ceremony.
UNC Pembroke will
use $57 million from North Carolina Higher Education Bonds for construction
and renovation projects to classroom buildings. Altogether, there will
be six new buildings and nine will be renovated and expanded, Chancellor
Meadors said.
Speaking on behalf
of the UNCP Board of Trustees was Henry Lewis, a 1972 graduate.
"I came to
this university during an earlier construction boom. Those were exciting
times, full of optimism for the future of this university," Lewis
said. "Today, on the edge of the new construction boom, I feel
blessed to be able to see the realization of my undergraduate dreams."
View
the Construction Update web site
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