HPU to build Athletic Performance Center for NCAA Div. l Teams.

• Position: Extraordinary EDUCATION

High Point University plans to break ground on a new 31,500-square-foot Athletic Performance Center for its student-athletes at Vert Stadium. The $9 million facility will house the Panthers' growing athletics program which now includes NCAA Div. I men's and women's lacrosse. The Panther Club, the university's athletic booster club, committed $3 million toward the project.

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The facility will house a 120-seat academic center as well as a state-of-the-art athletic training center. It will include new locker rooms and lounges for the men's and women's lacrosse teams and the men's and women's soccer teams. The women's lacrosse team has already won multiple conference championships and advanced to this year's NCAA tournament, while the men's lacrosse team recently completed its inaugural season. The women's soccer team has been to the NCAA tournament four times since 2003.

A hospitality suite located on the third floor will overlook the field, and a media area and video production area will be on...