Raleigh, N.C. — N.C. State's College of Veterinary Medicine is expanding. The school broke ground Wednesday to make way for the $72 million facility.

The Randall B. Terry, Jr. Companion Animal Center is expected to be more than double the size of the current companion animal hospital. The 115,000-square-foot facility will help accommodate nearly 25,000 cases referred to the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Officials said the current facility is designed to handle 9,000 to 12,000 cases a year, and it has exceeded that amount.

"Last year, we cared for 20,000 animals. We are just on top of each other, just completely out of space," said Dr. Michael Davidson, associate dean and director of veterinary medical services.

"The Randall B. Terry Jr. Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center is a testament to Mr. Terry's love of animals," said Warwick Arden, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "When completed, this state-of-the-art medical center will serve as a national model and will provide an outstanding environment in which our faculty and students can promote animal health."

The new hospital received a $20 million pledge from the R.B. Terry, Jr. Charitable Foundation – the largest private gift ever given to N.C. State. The General Assembly also appropriated $38 million for the facility. Private funds were expected to pay for the reminder of the project.

"This is a one-of-a-kind facility serves the entire state, and we're very proud of that," said Dr. James Oblinger, N.C. State University chancellor.

The N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine is already one of the top five veterinary schools in the country. Supporters said the new facility will make the school even more competitive and impact animal and human medicine.

Construction on the new facility should be completed by 2009.