UNC Pembroke—recognized for its rich diversity and deep historical roots—is expanding its commitment to education and community impact with a new 75,000‑square‑foot Clinical Sciences Center. Responding to the growing regional demand for accessible healthcare and a well-prepared workforce, the facility will serve as a cornerstone for health sciences education and delivery in southeastern North Carolina.
The building will support the recently established College of Health Sciences by bringing existing programs together and introducing expanded offerings, including an Occupational Health program and the region’s first Doctorate of Optometry. Purpose-built environments for learning, research, and clinical engagement are carefully integrated throughout the facility, with adaptable planning strategies that allow the building to evolve alongside academic and healthcare needs.
Jenkins Peer Architects along with partner firm Flad Architects, led an intensive programming and design process with University and community stakeholders, shaping a facility that reflects the spirit, culture, and mission of UNC Pembroke. The design is grounded in regionalism—responding to local climate, landscape, and cultural context—while embracing modern health sciences planning principles. Four key influences guided the approach: the community, the UNCP campus and UNC system, the regional setting, and the health sciences curriculum.
These drivers informed the building’s massing and organization, resulting in two primary entrances—one public and one academic—linked by a central gathering commons. This translucent indoor‑outdoor space functions as both a social hub and flexible venue, reinforcing the Clinical Sciences Center’s role as a place of connection, exchange, and community engagement.
