PACK POINTS
Groundbreaking moment
The James B. Hunt Jr. Library will house the University's engineering collections and will be located near the completed Engineering Buildings I, II and III along a patch of green space known as “the oval.”
The growing engineering community on Centennial Campus is another step closer toward getting a state-of-the-art library within a short walk from many of its buildings.
The ceremonial groundbreaking of the James B. Hunt Jr. Library occurred Oct. 23 and coincided with the campus' 25th anniversary celebration. The event drew 400 guests and featured addresses by several notable North Carolina figures including Hunt, who was the state's governor for 16 years and holds two degrees from NC State.
The library, which will feature a state-of-the-art automated storage and retrieval system, is scheduled to be completed in 2012. It will house the University's engineering collections and will be located near the completed Engineering Buildings I, II and III along a patch of green space known as “the oval.” When built, Engineering Buildings IV and V will stand nearby.
“This building will mark the beginning of a new era in learning and collaboration on campus,” said Susan Nutter, vice provost and director of libraries at NC State. “We're absolutely thrilled that the university is going to have one of the finest academic and research libraries anywhere in the world.”
The 200,000-square-foot library will also help alleviate overcrowded conditions
in university library spaces. And it will house the Institute for Emerging Issues,
a public-policy “think-and-do” tank that brings together leaders
from businesses, non-profit organizations, government and higher education to
tackle some of the biggest issues facing North Carolina's future growth
and prosperity. 