Coastal Carolina University Breaks Ground on New Health and Human Performance Building

Coastal Carolina University has officially broken ground on the new $75 million Health and Human Performance Building, its largest construction project to date. University leaders, faculty, staff, students, and members of the public gathered on Sept. 30, 2026, for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the milestone.

The 85,000-square-foot facility will be located on the former track and field site across from Brittain Hall, becoming the new home of the Conway Medical Center College of Health and Human Performance (CMCCHHP).

"This facility — the largest academic building project in the history of this University — will advance this mission and support students in transformative ways,” said James J. Winebrake, Ph.D., president of CCU. “As health care needs grow and the science of human performance evolves, our responsibility is clear: Prepare the next generation of health care professionals, researchers, educators, and leaders who will serve our communities and improve quality of life throughout South Carolina, our region, and our world.” 

The college serves more than 2,000 students across 15 degree programs and minors, with academic departments in public health, nursing and health sciences, kinesiology, and recreation and sport management.

The facility will feature classrooms, specialized laboratories, clinical and simulation spaces, administrative offices, meeting areas, and a teaching clinic. The university’s Community, Outreach, Research, and Education (CORE) Center will also be housed in the new facility, offering diverse, easy-to-access health-related assessments, client consultations, and targeted educational and outreach programs for residents living in Horry and Georgetown counties. Its design will support experiential learning and research, giving students access to advanced technology and environments that reflect the settings they will encounter in their careers.

“The students educated here will care for patients in our hospitals and clinics,” said Winebrake. “They will lead wellness initiatives in our communities. They will conduct research that advances knowledge. And they will strengthen the workforce that supports the health and prosperity of Horry County, Georgetown County, and communities across our state and beyond.”

The project comes as CCU continues expanding its health-related academic offerings to meet the needs of South Carolina and the rapidly growing Grand Strand region. In December 2025, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education approved CCU's Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and additional health-related programs are in development.

CCU recently secured $2.4 million in federal funding to establish an Advanced Nursing and Health Sciences Simulation Laboratory. The funding supports high-fidelity simulation equipment, augmented and virtual reality systems, specialty simulation areas, and other resources that give students realistic clinical experiences.

The new building will bring these growing programs together in one central location and help CCU expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in health, sport, and human performance.

Once complete, the Health and Human Performance Building will provide students and faculty with a new setting where education, research, technology, and community partnerships come together, preparing the next generation of professionals to make an impact throughout South Carolina and beyond. The project is expected to be finished in fall 2028.