During April 2016, Dr. Nido Qubein announced several construction projects that would take place on campus. One of the upcoming additions to the college that is currently being developed is a new undergraduate sciences building.

Construction began on the $65 million dollar facility during the Summer of 2017 after it was funded by gifts to the High Point University from several charitable individuals, including a few who remained anonymous.

It was announced on January 29th, 2018 that the HPU board of trustees had decided to name the new addition to HPU’s campus the “Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences” in honor of Karen and Todd Wanek, the president of Superior Fresh and the CEO of Ashley Furniture respectively. They are two long time supporters of High Point University’s development and have given the college several donations over the years.

The new building was commissioned to help accommodate the growth of several science majors that have received an influx of students during the past several years and increase the quality of these courses.

The Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences will primarily be a center for biology, chemistry, physics and the health science classes and research in order to meet the growing demand.

The 128,000 square foot building will boast a variety of features, including new workspaces and equipment for science students and professors, allowing students to participate in hands on learning. There will also be a brand new planetarium added to the facility for use by all High Point University students.

“It will have the most recent and sophisticated lab equipment, furnishings and classrooms.” says Dr. Dennis Carroll, HPU provost. “The new labs will allow us to have more students performing labs at one time, and the new building will also have research space to allow professors to work on research with their students.”
The new building is part of a plan to improve the undergraduate health science curriculum at High Point University and ensure that students have the knowledge that they need in order to succeed when studying for their graduate degrees.

“We have a clear plan to help enhance our undergraduate health science programs and we are working to prepare our students for the graduate programs.” explained Dr. Carroll.

The expansion does not necessarily mean that there will be an increase in the number of science professors teaching at High Point University. The number of professors is based on the total students in that major, however the health sciences have been receiving an influx of new students that may require more professors in the future.

The new school of undergraduate sciences will be located next to the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy and the Congdon School of Health Sciences, allowing students with classes in these buildings to commute between them easily.

The High Point University development team are working diligently on the construction of the new facility and all of its planned features. The current estimation for the completion of the Wanek School of Undergraduate Sciences is the beginning of the Fall semester of 2019.