Meharry Medical College officials broke ground today on the $25 million Cal Turner Family Center, the future home for a 500-seat auditorium, a ballroom, study and classroom space, a food court and a visitor’s center. The 80,000-square-foot building at 21st Avenue North and Alameda Street is Meharry's largest construction project in more than 30 years and should open in the summer 2014.

The approximately $25 million building is named after Cal Turner, Jr., former Dollar General Chairman and CEO, whose family’s foundation made the lead contribution of $3 million. This is the single largest gift the foundation has ever made and will be the first building in North Nashville that bears the name of a prominent Nashville civic and philanthropic leader. Turner joined Meharry’s leadership, Board of Trustees, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper and Tennessee State Senator Thelma Harper and other dignitaries for the groundbreaking ceremony.