Cape Fear Community College officials continue to work on transforming a downtown Wilmington office building into a facility to boost the health care workforce.

The five-story, 55,000-square-foot structure at 319 N. Third St., which was acquired in 2023, is being renovated in two phases.

Overall, the renovations will enable CFCC to expand enrollment in the dental assisting and hygiene programs, addressing local and regional workforce needs for dental professionals, said Christina Hallingse, director of media relations at CFCC, in an email. Additionally, the renovations will enable expansion of nursing programs and facilitate future expansion of both new and existing health and human science programs. 

Phase I of the renovations, which included additional classrooms, simulation laboratories and office space to support the college’s growing nursing program and other health and human science programs, are complete, and the building was opened to students in January this year.

Phase II, which is in final design stage, will include additional classrooms, office space and the relocation and expansion of the Cape Fear Community College Dental Clinic, according to CFCC. A fall 2025 completion of Phase II is anticipated, Hallingse said.

New Hanover County purchased 319 N. Third St. for CFCC for about $11.4 million last year. CFCC will lease the property from the county for nine years at $1 annually; eventually, the college will own it outright. 

In January this year, CFCC announced that Dan Saklad pledged $3 million to the college that is being used for the 319 N. Third St. renovation. 

The contribution from Saklad, the college’s largest naming gift in its 65-year history, will be recognized by naming the building the Dan and Sheila Saklad Health and Human Services Center. The college will hold a naming reception at 11 a.m. Thursday on the second floor of the new facility.

It's not the first contribution to the college from the family. Sheila M. Saklad, who died in August 2020, was a nurse, as was her mother, both educated at Columbia’s school of nursing in New York City. In her memory, Dan Saklad founded the Sheila M. Saklad Accelerated Nursing Fellowship.

The Saklad family also established the Daniel A. & Sheila M. Saklad Endowed Nursing Scholarship, which has supported the education of over 50 students since 2002, officials stated.

Thursday’s reception will include brief remarks from Jim Morton, president of Cape Fear Community College, as well as Saklad and a health and human services student. After the presentation, guests will be able to take a student-led tour of the first phase of construction and get a sneak peek at what's coming in Phase II. The event is open to the public.