Wayne Community College officially broke ground on its most recent capital construction project at a ceremony attended by elected officials, community members, faculty, staff, and students.
WCC’s Pine Building will undergo renovations to accommodate the prospective growth of the College’s Allied Health division, particularly its nursing programs.
The project includes the addition of a custom 120-seat tiered lecture hall to provide more space for classroom instruction. The building’s entire first floor will be renovated for expansion, and the current gravel parking lot will be paved.
Dr. Patty Pfeiffer, WCC president, explained the significance of the project in relation to the growth of the student population. “These changes will affect not only the physical structure on our campus but also our capacity to operate and educate. Wayne Community College is prepared to build upon the work we’re already doing in graduating skilled healthcare professionals, and in order to provide a sufficient learning environment for them, expansion becomes the first step,” she said.
WCC Nursing Department Chair Michelle Garon acknowledged the projected nursing shortage in North Carolina and how she hopes the Pine Building expansion will allow for higher enrollment numbers in WCC’s nursing programs, ultimately leading to an increase in nursing graduates.
“The College’s nursing faculty members uphold the highest standards of academic and clinical excellence, and the knowledge they pass on to even more students due to these additions and renovations will transform lives and the future of healthcare,” Garon said.
Dr. Jessie Tucker, president and CEO of UNC Health Wayne, also spoke about the shortage of nurses and higher education training opportunities. “Today we celebrate what I believe to be a strong supply-side solution to this preventable challenge—exponentially increasing the availability and affordability of nursing and other health training opportunities, right here in our community,” he said.
Daniels and Daniels Construction and Moseley Architects serve as the building and design firms for the Pine Building renovation project. It is expected to be completed by the fall 2026 semester.
Jeremiah Daniels, president of Daniels and Daniels Construction, said he appreciates being part of WCC nursing students’ educational journey. “It gives a lot more value and meaning to us to not just be building a building but solving a problem and doing something with our community,” he said.
Joe Daughtery, member of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and WCC’s Board of Trustees, thanked the ceremony’s attendees for helping to make the construction project possible. “Needing more space and upgraded features to provide for more students is a good ‘problem’ to have, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support the needs of the College and the community as we collectively implement plans to bring about a promising future,” he said.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.