A state-of-the-art lecture hall and an eco-friendly rooftop terrace are just some of the unique features of the newest building planned for Wake Tech’s Northern Wake Campus.

Educators, business leaders and elected officials joined Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen Scott to break ground on “Building E” on September 15.

The $22 million facility will be the fourth academic building on the rapidly expanding campus, which opened three years ago on 117 acres along Louisburg Road just north of I-540.

“It’s another day for celebration at Northern Wake,” Scott said. “Building E is part of Wake Tech’s response to this community. It will allow us to serve the record number of students who are turning to us for quality education and training, while helping us

preserve precious resources and be good environmental stewards. That’s the Wake Tech way.”

Building E is expected to be open for classes in January 2012. Features will include:

•  Four floors, 80,820 square feet.

• 27 classrooms and labs, including customized areas for training nursing assistants.

• Five acoustically isolated music rooms.

•  A 293-seat lecture hall.

•  An outdoor rooftop terrace.

The rooftop terrace will be designed to absorb carbon dioxide and generate oxygen, reducing what’s known as the “heat island effect.” The terrace is one of the building components that will help Building E achieve LEED Silver – or possibly Gold –

certification.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the U.S. Green Building Council’s standard for environmentally responsible construction. The Northern Wake Campus is the first campus in the nation to be completely LEED certified.

Other LEED features – daylight harvesting, shade louvers on the south side, low-flow restroom fixtures, and no-irrigation landscaping – will result in a 57 percent reduction in energy use and a 47 percent reduction in water use.

Building E was designed by Clark Nexsen Architecture & Engineering and will be built by Edifice, Inc.

“Edifice is honored and excited to work with Wake Tech as they expand and strengthen the academic opportunities available on campus,” said Tim Clark, project manager for Edifice. “We especially enjoy the opportunity to utilize our LEED-accredited staff and our background in sustainable construction to support Wake Tech’s efforts to create a healthier environment. We look forward to working on the Northern Wake Campus.”

Wake Tech’s Northern Wake Campus is expected to serve more than 7,000 students this fall. That’s more than triple the number of students the campus started with when it opened in the fall of 2007. More than 1,200 students are part of a pilot program designed to maximize classroom space. “Afternoon College” entices students to take advantage of off-peak afternoon hours with ample parking and first-priority for seats in classes.

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