N.C. A&T has expanded substantially since the campus was built in 1891, and the 2020 Master Plan shows that expansions will not be coming to a halt in the near future.

The facilities department created the plan to support the A&T Preeminence 2020. The goal of the A&T Preeminence is to set a long term strategic course for A&T.

“Global circumstances demand new solutions from our science and technical fields, new enhancements in cultural competencies and social awareness,” said Chancellor Martin in the A&T Preeminence 2020.

Ideas such as this one from the preeminence put high priority on the construction and modernization of the technology and science buildings.

The appropriated projects of the master plan include a new college of engineering building and a new school of nursing/ life sciences building.

While there are no details on how the buildings will look or what they will include as of yet, the buildings are deemed to be larger and much more technologically advanced than the current ones.

Melody Pierce, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs said, “The master plan is very dynamic. It has been evolving since 2010 and never stops evolving, as it shouldn’t. Everyday we need to take a step forward.”

Other appropriated projects listed in the master plan are the enrollment Management/ One-stop center, which has the intent to decrease hassle for incoming students.

It also includes a performing Arts Center, a convocation center and a Data center located at Gateway Park.

Among the non-appropriated projects are the highly anticipated, new Student Union, Student Health Center and the Skybox.

Pierce said, “The design of the new health center is LEED level silver and the student union is LEED level gold which speaks to a level of energy saving, and how efficiently ran these buildings will be. High standards are what we are shooting for.”

These non-appropriated expansion projects are funded by non-general contributions, which include student fees, bond sales, title lll funds, alumni donations, or a combination.

Expansion from 2000 to 2012 was a product of the $4.4 billion Bond program that was divided among UNC system schools.

A&T received $175 million from the bond program and millions more from other sources including alumni donations that totaled $400 million dollars.

That money was used to expand and upgrade the campus from its state in 2000 to what current students see today.

Andrew Perkins, Asst. Vice Chancellor said “Here in facilities we are mission orientated, and our goal is to provide the very best facilities and facilities support to students, faculty and staff.”

The preeminence also stresses advancement in STEM education, thus the master plan also calls for modernization of Price Hall, Marteena Hall, and McNair Hall.

Shelby Kilgore, senior computer engineering major said, “The McNair building is kind of old and upgrades would help engineering students a lot. At the very least we need more classrooms and more computer labs.”

The betterment of agriculture and research endeavors from the master plan includes renovations to Carver Hall, Webb Hall, Benbow Hall and Sockwell Hall.

Other modernizations include Moore gym, where women’s volleyball and intramural basketball games take place. The building does not have air conditioning.

Hodgin Hall which holds A&T’s STEM early college is also in the master plan for modernization.

One would think that the plans would include rebuilding the south side of campus, where Vanstory, Barbee, and Morrow dormitories are located, due to its unsightly appearance, but they do not.

However, that portion of the campus is listed in the national historical registry, which requires exteriors of these buildings to be maintained as close to the way they originally stood as possible.

Fortunately, this does not mean the interiors of the buildings located on that side of campus would not be renovated.

As far as more parking is concerned, A&T actually has excess parking.

Parking is just not conveniently located in order to create a pedestrian friendly campus.

So, more parking will be added, but only to the outermost parts of campus.

The 2020 master plan also includes mandatory maintenance and upgrades to technology infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, water lines and steam line replacement.

For further details, and a closer look at the future structure of A&T, both the facilities Master Plan and the A&T Preeminence 2020 can be viewed on the A&T’s website.

—Email Courtney at [email protected] and follow The Register on Twitter @TheATRegister

• Courtney Matthews, Asst. Online Editor