UNC Pembroke Breaks Ground on Clinical Sciences Building

The University of North Carolina Pembroke celebrated the start of construction on its new Clinical Sciences Building with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 10. Flad partnered with UNCP and architect of record Jenkins Peer Architects to design the 74,000-square-foot facility, which will house the College of Optometric Medicine and the Occupational Therapy program as well as additional clinical science programs.

The new building will enhance UNCP's existing College of Health Sciences, which was established in 2018 to address a critical need for more healthcare professionals in the region. It will be home to the first Doctor of Optometry program offered by a public university in North Carolina.

Designed to support hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workforce development across southeastern North Carolina, the Clinical Sciences Building features specialized learning and clinical spaces, including an optometric clinic, clinical exam rooms, simulation labs, and collaborative student spaces.

In addition to providing students with real-world experience, the Clinical Sciences Building will expand access to much-needed care for communities across the university's nine-county region.

The Clinical Sciences Building is scheduled to open for the fall semester in 2028.

May 06, 2026