By Michela Gritti
UNCP held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 10 for its new Center of Optometry and Clinical Sciences Building, a project university leaders say will have a lasting impact on health care and economic growth in southeastern North Carolina.
The ceremony, held at 1 p.m. on campus, brought together faculty, community members and the university’s Board of Trustees, along with key contributors who helped make the project possible.
Chancellor R. Cummings highlighted the significance of the project in his remarks, emphasizing its potential to address unmet health needs in the region. He said many children are born with vision problems that often go untreated and that the new facility will help change that by expanding access to eye care.
“This building will change the future of the population of this area,” Cummings said, adding that the project will also train future optometrists and contribute to the local economy.
The Clinical Sciences Building, expected to be completed in August 2028, is a roughly 79,000 square foot facility with an estimated cost of about $92 million. It will house the university’s College of Optometric Medicine, which is set to become the first public optometry school in North Carolina and the first within the UNC system.
The building will feature two main wings, one for academic use and one for clinical services, connected by a central commons area with food service and a two-story glass atrium. The design includes separate entrances for patients and students, as well as spaces intended to support both learning and patient care.
The first floor will include clinic exam rooms designed to protect patient privacy, along with faculty collaboration areas. The second floor will house classrooms, a library, open study spaces and food service. Faculty offices and additional collaboration spaces will be located on the third floor.
Architectural features include large windows for natural light, a ceiling design that resembles wood and an opening that allows views of the sky from inside the building. Outdoor elements will include landscaped green spaces, a garden and walking paths.
The project is supported in part by a $4.86 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Cummings also addressed broader challenges facing the region, noting that Robeson County has long struggled economically. He said education remains central to creating opportunity and long-term growth.
“Progress starts from education,” Cummings said. “Projects like this are fundamental for the growth of our community.”
University officials said the new facility will expand educational opportunities while improving access to care, positioning the university as a key contributor to the region’s future.
