High Point University Growth Continues with $200 Million in Construction Projects

High Point University’s transformational growth continues during the summer months with $200 million in active construction projects across the 460-acre campus.

“It is amazing what takes place on our campus during the summer and beyond,” says HPU President Nido Qubein. “At HPU, we have created a learning environment where our faculty engage, inspire and educate students along their personal transformation. These projects further our mission and continued growth.”

Since 2005, the campus has tripled undergraduate enrollment, established six new academic schools, opened dozens of new and renovated state-of-the-art facilities and increased student support services.

Major construction projects across HPU’s campus include the Wanek School of Natural Sciences, Culp Planetarium, Caine Conservatory, Couch Hall renovations for HPU’s Webb School of Engineering and the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel.

Additional construction projects include extending the Mahler Promenade between Congdon Hall and Wanek School of Natural Sciences to the Plato S. Wilson School of Commerce and the Caine Conservatory, adding a new parking lot behind Congdon Hall and Wanek School of Natural Sciences, renovating the game lab inside the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, renovating the Charles E. Hayworth Sr. Memorial Chapel and installing artificial turf and lighting to the intramural sport fields.

Details of each major construction project:

The Wanek School of Natural Sciences is named in honor of Todd Wanek, the CEO of Ashley Furniture, and Karen Wanek, the president of Superior Fresh. This $65 million, 128,000-square-foot academic facility will be home to HPU’s flourishing science programs in biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience and biochemistry. It will be completed this fall.

The Culp Planetarium is named in honor of Rob and Susan Culp. The three-story, 6,000-square-foot planetarium and lecture room space is located inside of the Wanek School of Natural Sciences. The facility will include 125 seats and a 50-foot dome with a 4k projection screen and a state-of-the-art surround sound system. The facility will be equipped with programming to teach astronomy, earth science, anatomy and a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lessons for university students, as well as elementary, middle and high school-age groups in the community.

The Caine Conservatory is a 15,000-square-foot facility that is named after a long-time Triad family, Don and Teresa Caine. The conservatorywill be located next to the Wanek School of Natural Sciences. It will provide a space for students and faculty to conduct botanical research and propagate plants for the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Gardens. A classroom, working greenhouse, new eatery and planting display space for the community at large will be housed in the facility under an 8,000-square-foot glass roof. This will provide a larger area for students to conduct research. It will be completed this fall.

Couch Hall is undergoing renovations to accommodate the Webb School of Engineering. The Webb School of Engineering will house HPU’s existing computer science major and further opportunities to complete a concentration in cyber security. New degrees in computer engineering and in electrical engineering will begin this fall. Renovations are expected to be completed this fall.

The Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel is a $120 million facility that will become the home of HPU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as a venue for major events, speakers, concerts, entertainment, academic symposia and recreational activities. The Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel is under construction on HPU’s main campus at the corner of Lexington Avenue and University Parkway. It will include 4,500 arena seats as well as suites, locker rooms, staff offices, concession stands, a merchandising area, media suite, press conference room, weight room, athletic training room, hospitality area, high tech audio and video equipment, ticket office and a practice gym. It is expected to be completed in fall 2020.

The Conference Center will seat 2,500 visitors and will be a space for growing undergraduate and graduate programs, student groups and community organizations and have the ability to be subdivided into smaller venues with lighting, sound and video for state-of-the-art presentations. It will also support the event management major.

A small, executive hotel will be located adjacent to the conference center to support a proposed hospitality management program and to accommodate a growing number of requests by organizations who specifically want to tour the campus and experience HPU’s unique educational environment and culture. The hotel will provide 30 residential rooms with dining facilities and meeting rooms.

Additional construction projects include:

• Extending the Mahler Promenade between Congdon Hall and Wanek School of Natural Sciences to the Plato S. Wilson School of Commerce and the Caine Conservatory. The promenade will include a topiary garden, which will be part of the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
• A new parking lot will add 331 parking spaces behind Congdon Hall and Wanek School of Natural Sciences.
• The game lab, which was previously one classroom in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, is being renovated into three spaces that include a computer lab with 24 stations, a design area for students to work on game conceptualization and game play, and an e-sports lab area for video game competition play.
• The Charles E. Hayworth Sr. Memorial Chapel is receiving upgrades that include new flooring, seating, painting, lighting and audio-visual enhancements.
• The intramural sport fields are getting artificial turf and new lighting.