GREENSBORO -- Almost a year ago, leaders moved the first dirt to signify the start of the Union Square Project. Now, walls are up and crews are at work all over the site of the 85,000 square foot facility.
“We're really excited about it," said Ed Kitchen, Union Square campus project organizer. "If you've been downtown in that area, you can see how quickly the building is going up."
Project organizers expect to have students in the building by late August or early September. It's quick work considering planning alone for the project took about four years, followed by an elaborate design phase.
Leaders say construction has been smooth.
“They've done a great job. We wanted to have it ready because, in the case of UNCG's doctor of nursing practice program, they don't have enough space on campus for that particular program," said Kitchen. "It's important we get that done in a timely fashion, so new students in the fall can use the new facility."
The facility is a unique nursing collaboration between Cone Health, GTCC, NC A&T State University and UNCG.
The three-story building will allow them to share resources, including labs, a mock mini-hospital and classrooms, to cut costs without cutting corners on training future nurses.
“There's such a demand for talent to go into the nursing field," said Kitchen. "There's a lot of unfilled positions, and those jobs are going to continue to grow, and they pay really well."
Planners hope the new campus will not only spur work development, but also commercial and residential development in the area as well.
“We think it’s going to be a great location to stimulate additional development and investment in that part of our downtown," said Kitchen. "It’s also a key front door to our community because lots of people come off the interstate, and that’s one of their first impressions of what they see.”
Construction is on track to be done by July, in time for a ribbon cutting in August before students start classes this fall.