College and university classes may dwindle to a trickle over the summer; however, that’s certainly not the case when it comes to construction at High Point University, where the projects are going gangbusters right now.

The university’s campus is continuing to grow this summer – as it has over the years – with $100 million in construction projects currently underway ahead of the university’s centennial anniversary in September.

Construction is taking place on two new buildings – the Workman School of Dental Medicine and the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law.

 The dental and law school programs will both welcome their first students this fall. The inaugural classes for those two schools are already at capacity: The dental program will have 60 students while the first class of the law school will consist of 70 students.

Both of those buildings will be three stories high and 77,500 square feet in size.

Combined, they have a price tag of $92 million.

High Point University’s two schools will be located next to each other on a part of campus known as the “Innovation Corridor.” According to university officials, both buildings will feature “state-of-the-art learning spaces that will simulate what students might encounter when they are working inside a real courtroom or dental office after graduation.”

Shelco, LLC, the general contractor for the projects, has about 90 people working away daily at the campus. Earlier this month, the school held a ceremony to celebrate the last beam being installed on these facilities as well as to honor the Shelco employees and the 285 employees who’ve been hired to man the new schools.

Construction of the two buildings is expected to be completed by June 2025.

The two new graduate schools reflect the university’s growth in graduate programs in recent years. The schools are being constructed next to Congdon Hall – the home of the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, which offer master’s level degrees in physician assistant studies and athletic training, as well as doctoral degrees in physical therapy and pharmacy.

University President Nido Qubein – perhaps the most consistently positive and optimistic person on the planet – said this is a terrific time for the university.

“The growth in graduate schools at High Point University is a reflection of our commitment to academic excellence and to preparing students for the world as it will be,” Qubein said this week. “High Point University continues to experience transformational growth in all aspects – degree programs, opportunities and support services for students, facilities, enrollment and more. We are anticipating the largest enrollment in High Point University’s history this fall. I’m excited for students to return to campus and see all the improvements that have been made.”

In addition to the new construction of those buildings, High Point University has $8 million in renovation projects taking place this summer on the university’s 520-acre campus.

Those projects include a $2.7 million job remodeling of Belk Hall.

Some ongoing projects include the expansion of a Chick-fil-A dining facility in Panther Commons – the university’s newest residence hall – and a Village Juice inside the Slane Student Center.

The university also has some upcoming projects on its slate as it plans for the upcoming construction of a four-story, 150,000-square-foot Charmin Library.

 The university broke ground on the Workman School of Dental Medicine in September of 2023.

“The new building represents a vision of dental medicine that incubates collaboration, education, innovation and life skills among our community of learners, staff, faculty and visitors,” said Dr. Ali Shazib, the dean and chief clinical officer for that program.  “From our digital labs, where design and manufacturing occur, to our moveable furniture and learning, multi-purpose rooms, every step of the process was meticulously planned with the thought of remaining agile to address the evolving landscape of education, technology and health care.”

Also in September of 2023, the law school building broke ground.

The dean of the Kahn School of Law is equally excited about the new facility.

“Our new building contains the ideal mix of spaces needed to operate a first-rate law school,” said Mark Martin, the founding dean of the program and a professor of law.  “From state-of-the-art instructional and library spaces to inviting student study and organizational spaces, this new facility will help our school thrive. We will not only be able to educate our students in an inspiring environment, but we will also be able to create an exceptional community among our faculty, staff, students and law school guests.”

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