High Point University Breaks Ground on Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel

More than 2,000 people gathered at High Point University today to celebrate the ground breaking of the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel.

ABOVE PHOTO – Several High Point University  family members ceremoniously broke ground during today’s event. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Rev. Jeff Patterson, senior pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church; HPU Provost Dr. Dennis Carroll; Bob Brown, vice chairman of the HPU Board of Trustees; HPU President Nido Qubein; HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein; Orlando “Tubby” Smith, HPU men’s basketball coach; HPU Athletic Director Dan Hauser; DeUnna Hendrix, HPU women’s basketball coach; Lyndsey Clos, president of HPU’s Student Government Association; and Chris Dudley, HPU’s senior vice president for Institutional Advancement.

The $120 million project will be home to HPU men’s and women’s Division I basketball teams at HPU, as well as major events and academic conferences. It will also be a learning lab for HPU’s event management major and a proposed hospitality program. The multipurpose facility marks another milestone in the university’s transformational growth, which began in 2005 when HPU President Nido Qubein took the helm.

“The HPU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to honor HPU President Nido Qubein and HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein by naming this facility in their honor,” said Bob Brown, vice chairman of the HPU Board of Trustees, during the ceremony. “Naming this facility in their honor is a symbol of gratitude for their profound vision, leadership, service and philanthropy and love of this great university. Nido and Mariana Qubein are among the most generous supporters of HPU, and they have been unwavering in their vigor and their drive to make this one of the greatest universities in our country. Today, I’m honored and privileged to recognize Dr. Nido Qubein and Mrs. Mariana Qubein.”

This is an architectural rendering of HPU’s Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel. It will be located on the corner of Lexington Avenue and University Parkway.

The groundbreaking was held during HPU’s annual Family Weekend, which draws 5,000 visitors to the city. Today’s crowd reflected the scale of events that will be held regularly at the arena when it opens in 2020.

“Mariana and I are privileged to serve this institution of higher learning to allow it to become all that God intended for it to become,” said HPU President Nido Qubein during the event. “We are honored to announce to the world that we are a God, family and country school, a premier life skills school, and that here, we plant seeds of greatness in the minds, in the hearts and in the souls of our students.

“Mariana and I and are blessed that as immigrants, as both of us are, we can come to this nation, begin with meager belongings, start some businesses and along the way, and be able to have the blessings to share with our alma mater. We are honored today that the Board of Trustees chose to name this magnificent facility for our family, and we look forward to the many opportunities when all of us will gather together in this facility.”

Chris Dudley, senior vice president for institutional advancement, also recognized the Qubein family for their philanthropic giving.

“Dr. Nido and Mariana Qubein are both proud alumni of this institution, and they are also among the university’s largest supporters,” said Dudley. “In addition to their vision, tireless service and constant presence at HPU, their family has generously invested in HPU’s continued growth.”

The Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel will be located on HPU’s main campus at the corner of Lexington Avenue and University Parkway. Site preparation is already underway, and construction begins immediately.

More than 2,000 HPU families and community members attended the celebration, which was also part of HPU’s Fall Family Weekend that attracts 5,000 visitors to the city.

About the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel:

The arena will seat 4,500 spectators and include luxury suites, locker rooms, staff offices, concession stands, a merchandising area, media suite, film room, press conference room, weight room, athletic training room, hospitality area, high tech audio and video equipment, ticket office and a practice gym.

The conference center will seat 2,500 visitors and will be a space for growing undergraduate and graduate programs, student groups, academic conferences and community organizations. It will have the ability to be subdivided into smaller venues with lighting, sound and video for state-of-the-art presentations.

A small, boutique hotel will be located adjacent to the conference center to support a proposed hospitality management program and accommodate a growing number of requests by organizations that specifically want to tour the campus and experience HPU’s unique educational environment and culture. The hotel will provide 30 to 40 residential rooms with dining facilities and meeting rooms.

Through a joint venture, Christman Company and Samet Corp. have been selected as the contractors for the project. Construction is set to be completed in 2020.

By the numbers:

– $120 million total cost for arena, conference center and hotel

– 4,500 arena seats

– Features include suites, locker rooms, staff offices, concession stands, a merchandising area, media suite, film room, press conference room, weight room, athletic training room, hospitality area, high tech audio and video equipment, ticket office and practice gym

– 2,500 conference center seats

– A small, executive hotel will be located adjacent to the conference center to support a proposed hospitality management program and accommodate a growing number of requests by organizations who specifically want to tour the campus and experience HPU’s unique educational environment and culture.

– Construction will begin during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Editor’s Note: 1) Pictured is HPU President Nido Qubein addressing hundreds in attendance at the official groundbreaking for the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel. 2) Several HPU family members ceremoniously broke ground during today’s event. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Rev. Jeff Patterson, senior pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church; HPU Provost Dr. Dennis Carroll; Bob Brown, vice chairman of the HPU Board of Trustees; HPU President Nido Qubein; HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein; Orlando “Tubby” Smith, HPU men’s basketball coach; HPU Athletic Director Dan Hauser; DeUnna Hendrix, HPU women’s basketball coach; Lyndsey Clos, president of HPU’s Student Government Association; and Chris Dudley, HPU’s senior vice president for Institutional Advancement. 3) Pictured is Bob Brown, vice chairman of the HPU Board of Trustees, addressing the crowd. 4) More than 2,000 HPU families and community members attended the celebration, which was also part of HPU’s Fall Family Weekend that attracts 5,000 visitors to the city. 5) This is an architectural rendering of HPU’s Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel. It will be located on the corner of Lexington Avenue and University Parkway.

 At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.^® HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 5,200 undergraduate and graduate students. It is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report for Best Regional Colleges in the South, No. 1 for Most Innovative Regional Colleges in the South and recognized for Best Undergraduate Teaching in the South. The Princeton Review named HPU in the 2019 edition of “The Best 384 Colleges” in the nation, as well as Best-Run Colleges (No. 19), Best College Dorm Rooms (No. 5), Most Beautiful Campuses (No. 18) and a Great School for Communication Majors and a Great School for Business/Finance Majors. For eight years in a row, HPU has been named a College of Distinction with special recognition for business and education programs, and The National Council on Teacher Quality ranks HPU’s elementary education program as one of the best in the nation. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 57 undergraduate minors and 13 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University