UNC Pembroke will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly opened James A. Thomas Hall at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.

Governor Roy Cooper will be among hundreds of invitees attending the ceremony in front of the state-of-the-art, $38 million facility and home of the Thomas School of Business. Other guest speakers include North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger.

“This building is the outcome of support from so many,” said UNCP Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings. We look forward to holding the ribbon-cutting ceremony to thank Jim and Sally Thomas, our donors and our local and state legislators who all had a hand in making this building a reality.”

The building is named for Pembroke native and former UNCP Trustee James A. “Jim” Thomas. James A. Thomas Hall was made possible, thanks in large part, to a $7 million gift from Thomas and his wife, Sally—the largest charitable gift in the history of the university. Thomas, a prominent Los Angeles real estate developer, will speak at the event.

The Thomases announced their landmark gift in November 2017, followed by a $2 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation which added to the $23 million UNCP received from the Connect NC Bond and other major donors.

A groundbreaking was held in April 2019. Metcon, based in Pembroke, served as the general contractor for the project. The building officially opened to students at the beginning of the spring semester in January 2022.

The architecture of the 64,000 square-foot building is patterned after the fronts of two renowned business schools in the country: Harvard and Wake Forest.

It features offices, classrooms, a business career center, a 300-seat auditorium, an interactive market-style trading room, student discussion areas and an eatery.

Tours of the new facility will be provided at the conclusion of the ceremony. Refreshments will be served.