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RALEIGH – University leaders broke ground on a new library at N.C. State's Centennial Campus in honor of former Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. Leaders want to honor Hunt, the state's longest serving governor, for his contribution to education in North Carolina.

“This day is special because the Board of Trustees was smart enough to name this building for Gov. Hunt,” UNC System President Erskine Bowles said.

The James B. Hunt, Jr., Library will be a 200,000 square foot building with a $115 million price tag. It will house collections of the university's schools of textiles and engineering. The library will also be home to the Institute for Emerging Issues, which was founded by Hunt.

“It's going to have a wonderful interactive gallery where the young people will come like they do to a presidential library and learn about the history of the state and the progressive traditions of North Carolina,” Hunt said.

State leaders say the library cements Hunt's legacy as the “education governor.” Sen. Kay Hagan applauded Hunt's nationally recognized Smart Start Program for Early Childhood Education.

“That same vision for educating North Carolina students is what led Gov. Hunt to support the establishment of the Centennial Campus 25 years ago,” Hagan said.

Hunt said he hopes the library will keep his vision for students in years to come.

“This is going to be the place that's the exciting center of our state's future,” he said.

The library is scheduled to open in 2012.