WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNC-Wilmington officials celebrated a soon-to-be new health building on campus.

They broke ground Thursday on what will become Veterans Hall.

The $66 million building will house classes and labs for both the Health and Human Services and the Arts and Sciences Colleges.

Officials say the building is necessary with the student population increasing.

"Our college of Health and Human Services, we had 1,500 students in 2010. We're up to 3,600 now, and we expect it to grow to 5,000 the next two or three years,” said UNCW Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli “So, I think that's very special."

Construction is expected to be complete in two years.