The University broke ground on the new James B. Hunt Jr. Library Friday as state and University leaders gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Centennial Campus.  

Chancellor Jim Woodward kicked off the celebration by showing a video focusing on N.C. State’s Centennial Campus and introducing UNC President Erskine Bowles, Sen. Kay Hagan, Lieutenant Gov. Walter Dalton, Student Body President Jim Ceresnak and former Gov. Jim Hunt, for whom the library is named.  

During his four terms as governor, Hunt founded the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State and proposed the idea for Centennial Campus.  

The University decided to name the building after the former governor because, according to Woodward, without him, there would be no Centennial Campus.

The Hunt Library will feature the latest in technology, showcase the research achievements of the University, house the Institute for Emerging Issues and provide a place for students to study and work.

“This library will serve as the intellectual center of this campus,” Woodward said. “I suspect it will join the Bell Tower as one of two entities that say ‘N.C. State.’ “

The University has set the goal of opening the library on the oval of Centennial Campus by the summer of 2012.  

Hunt, who received a standing ovation upon greeting the crowd, spoke of his pride for Centennial Campus and his hope for the future of N.C. State.

“I am so proud of this Centennial Campus. We’re proud of where we are today but we’re not even beginning to be satisfied, because we know what we can be,” Hunt said. “This isn’t about me. This is about us – about North Carolina.”

The University hopes the library will provide a place for students and researchers to come together to work towards the future as, according to Bowles, Centennial Campus has done.  

“Centennial Campus is a world class model of how to bring researchers, businessmen, government and students together,” Bowles said. “The heart of any great university is its library and the Hunt Library will symbolize the tremendous good Hunt has done for North Carolina.”

The construction of the new library will take about two years to complete, but students already have high hopes for it.  

“I am really excited and I am looking forward to having an even more innovative library to use,” Kaylyn Mitman, a sophomore in textiles, said.  

Ceresnak closed the celebration by recognizing the former governor and expressing his excitement about the library on behalf of the student body.

“We will be better because of you, Gov. Hunt,” Ceresnak said.