North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has unveiled a visionary new home for its School of Business, at the intersection of Lawson Street and South Alston Avenue.
Celebrated with a spirited ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 28, this cutting-edge facility spans 76,000 square feet over 4.58 acres.
“I am immensely proud and grateful to witness the realization of dreams and dedication in this new state-of-the-art School of Business building,” said Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D., NCCU chancellor. “This structure symbolizes NCCU’s commitment to academic excellence and stands as a testament to our tenacious pursuit of knowledge and innovation. I hope this building will always nurture future leaders who will shape the world with brilliance and resilience, contributing significantly to North Carolina’s business landscape.”
Designed to empower student leaders, inspire groundbreaking research by faculty and staff and ignite progress in both the NCCU and Durham communities, the facility offers:
- A Business Innovation Lab, equipped with cutting-edge technology like 3D printers, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, helping entrepreneurial students to transform their ideas into tangible ventures.
- An enhanced Culinary Lab & Dining Room, providing hands-on training for aspiring hospitality professionals, with an adjoining dining space for events and gatherings.
- The Lowe's Auditorium, a dynamic venue for speaker series, starting with the NCCU School of Business’ Cybersecurity Symposium on March 14. The auditorium includes a 200-person capacity.
- A Cybersecurity Lab, creating an advanced learning environment to cultivate expertise in this high-demand field.
- The Business Incubator Suite, home to the Center of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, as well as the Peggy Ward Financial Education Center, offering financial resources and courses to students, high school teachers and community members.
- A Behavioral Research Classroom for in-depth focus group evaluations.
- A Trading Room, offering finance students access to real-time financial data through Bloomberg Terminals.
"We are incredibly excited about this monumental advancement for NCCU's School of Business,” said Anthony Nelson, Ph.D., dean. “Our gratitude goes out to our generous donors whose support has helped make this transformation possible. The impact of this move on our students' future success cannot be overstated—it is truly a game-changer."
The facility will also house the school’s newest academic programs, featuring MBA program concentrations in cybersecurity and information systems management, commercial real estate and wealth management. Notably, the commercial real estate and wealth management concentrations solidified NCCU as the first historically Black college or university to offer these programs at an MBA level.
Committed to nurturing future leaders in the Durham community, the School of Business also looks forward to utilizing the building to host five summer camps in June 2024, offering inspiration and education across its various disciplines.
For event and building photos, visit here.
