North Carolina Central University Chancellor Charlie Nelms became the first official to pass the gates at the newly opened Latham Parking Deck, the university’s first high-rise parking structure.

Latham, a $15-million, 750-space parking deck, opened on scheduled at 7 a.m. Monday. Spaces in the deck cost $450, and entitle purchasers to a reserved, numbered space. A free shuttle service takes deck users to various stops throughout campus.

Moments before driving into the deck, Nelms was joined by Willie Williams, NCCU’s police chief, and Zack Abegunrin, associate vice chancellor for facilities management, in cutting a ribbon to ceremonially open the facility. The first fifty NCCU employees who entered the deck received a Centennial keepsake as a “Garage Door Prize.”

NCCU’s other large parking areas are surface lots. Latham, at the corner of Lawson and Lincoln streets, also will accommodate a bookstore and a campus police substation. That section of the building should be completed by November 19.

The facility takes the name of the former structure at the site, Latham Residence Hall. It was named for the highly regarded Louise M. Latham, dean of women from 1948 to 1968.

For information about parking, call the NCCU Police Department at 530-6106.