You could almost hear the champagne corks popping in Moore Hall, home to many of Western’s academic programs in the health sciences, when N.C. Gov. Mike Easley signed a $20.7 billion budget bill on the last day of July. The state has provided nearly $53 million in new investments in Western as part of the 2007-08 budget, including $43.8 million in funding for a new $46.2 million health and gerontological sciences building.

The 145,000-square-foot facility that will house educational programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences will be the first construction project on the university’s Millennial Initiative property, 344 acres across N.C. Highway 107 from Western’s main campus in Cullowhee.

The new building will house classrooms, offices and laboratory space to allow much-needed expansion of Western’s accredited degree programs to meet an increasing demand for licensed health care professionals in a wide range of nursing and health sciences disciplines, said Linda Seestedt-Stanford, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.

“This building will provide exceptional educational and research opportunities that will enrich and advance the quality of education at Western and will serve as a testament to our dedication to making a difference in the health of the people of North Carolina,” said Seestedt-Stanford.

Above: Architect's concept of WCU's health and gerontological sciences building.