For an update on the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center, click here.

For an update on the Undergraduate Sciences Facility, click here.

HIGH POINT, N.C., April 27, 2016 – Today, Dr. Nido Qubein, High Point University president, announced another $160 million in construction and expansion on the campus of High Point University.

“At High Point University, we are blessed to do what seems impossible, especially during one of the greatest recessions of our time,” said Qubein, who has led a transformation over the past 11 years that tripled the undergraduate student population and quadrupled the size of campus. “People questioned us. But we knew that when you have faith and when you have courage, anything is possible. And today, our institution is poised for continued success and endless opportunity on the horizon.”

The $160 million is in addition to $1.5 billion HPU invested already in academic programs, facilities and student life.

Significant strides in academics have been made in the last 11 years, such as establishing the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, the only pharmacy school in the Triad which will welcome its first cohort in the fall. A $120 million facility to house these programs is currently under construction on campus.

The latest expansion includes academic, community, athletic and residential life facilities that accommodate the university’s enrollment growth, as well as the number of students flocking to HPU to study undergraduate sciences. Biology is the university’s third largest major, and exercise science is the fourth largest major.

In the next three years, HPU will begin:

Arena and Conference Center – A $70 million Arena and Conference Center will be built on the university’s main campus. The university is finalizing the site location and has hired an architecture firm for the project, set to begin during the 2018-2019 academic year.

The Arena will become the home of HPU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as a venue for major ceremonial events, speakers, concerts, entertainment, other large gatherings and recreational activities. It will seat 5,000 spectators and include suites, locker rooms, staff offices, concession stands, a merchandising area, media suite, film room, press conference room, weight room, athletic training room, hospitality area, high tech audio and video equipment, ticket office and practice gym.

The Conference Center will provide event space for growing undergraduate and graduate programs, student groups and community organizations. It will seat up to 2,500 individuals and have the ability to be subdivided into smaller venues with lighting, sound and video for state-of-the-art presentations. A fully operational catering kitchen will be included for banquets of up to 1,500 people.

The master plan for the project may include a small, executive hotel, pending approval from the Board of Trustees. It would be located adjacent to the Arena and Conference Center and serve the sport and event management major and a proposed hospitality management program. It would also accommodate a growing number of requests by organizations who specifically want to tour the campus and experience HPU’s unique educational environment and culture. Last year, 120 colleges and universities requested campus visits and meetings with HPU personnel.

Meanwhile, HPU continues to attract more than 100,000 visitors who fill local hotels each year.

Undergraduate Sciences Building – A $60 million undergraduate sciences facility will accommodate growth in majors including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, actuarial science and more. These programs complement HPU’s new graduate programs in physician assistant studies, pharmacy and future physical therapy program. The building will also house a planetarium and may include a conservatory. Construction will begin in spring 2017.

It will be located next to the $120 million Congdon School of Health Sciences and Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, currently under construction.

New Residence Hall – A 150,000-square-foot residence hall will accommodate HPU’s growing enrollment. The $23 million facility will house 310 students and be constructed near the new $22 million Cottrell Hall that opened in fall 2015. Construction will begin this summer.

It will be the tenth residential facility HPU has added to its campus since 2005.

In addition to the projects above, several million will be spent on site preparation.

Retracing HPU’s Transformation:

Qubein became president of HPU in 2005 and sparked a wave of change on campus.

Since then, more than $280 million has been raised and major academic milestones have been achieved. They include:

The numbers tell the story:



2005 2016 Growth Undergraduate Enrollment

(Traditional Students) 1,450 4,500 210% Fulltime Faculty 108 300 178% Campus Size (acres) 92 430 367% Square Footage 740,000 4 million 441% Buildings on Campus (new and acquired) 22 112 409% Total Positions 430 1,551 261% Economic Impact $160.3 million $464.5 million 190% Operating and Capital Budget $38 million $290 million 663% United Way Giving $38,000 $230,000 505% Study Abroad Programs 5 64 1,180%