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Demand Leads To UMass Lowell Groundbreaking

The University of Massachusetts at Lowell is breaking ground on its first new building in 35 years as officials seek to accommodate a 30 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment over the last four years.

The $40 million Health and Social Sciences Building will house three of the school's most popular majors, including criminal justice, nursing and psychology.

Groundbreaking for the 69,000-square-foot building scheduled for Thursday. Those expected to attend include Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan and other state and city officials.

The building is expected to open in 2013 and will have the capacity to serve nearly 900 students and more than 140 faculty.

Funding for the new building was provided through the Commonwealth's Higher Education Bond Bill, passed in 2008.

This program aired on April 21, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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