UNC Trustees Move Forward With Plans to Construct On-Campus New Residence Hall

The UNC Board of Trustees approved requests for a construction manager and site selection for “Residence Hall 1,” the first new residence hall on UNC’s campus since 2006. The approvals came during the board’s Thursday meeting, after the items were discussed during Wednesday’s Budget, Finance, and Infrastructure Committee meeting.

“We conducted a process to select, or make the recommendation for the selection of a construction manager-at-risk on a rather complex and fast-tracked project for a new residence hall,” said Evan Yassky, the executive director of facilities, planning and design, and the UNC university architect, during his address to the trustees. “So in round numbers, we thought this project could achieve 600 beds, and we budgeted roughly $93 million to achieve that.”

The proposed location for the new residence hall, which would require the demolition of Jackson Hall. (image via UNC Finance and Operations)

The new residence hall’s proposed location would be on the Northeast side of campus, just off of Country Club Road. Its construction will require the demolition of Jackson Hall, which is the former home of the UNC admissions office. The university has long sought a new location for the admissions department, with it at one point being planned  as part of its “Porthole Alley” redevelopment project. UNC Media Relations has since confirmed to Chapelboro a final decision for its next location has not yet been made.

The board approved $8 million to go towards the advanced planning for the project in January, and these latest approvals mark the first official steps taken on the project since. The goal is to construct a residence hall that offers at least 600 additional beds to UNC students by 2028, which is a key part of Chancellor Lee Roberts’ priorities for the university’s next few years. The project is just one part of 2019’s University Master Plan, which identified a need for increased student housing as a key factor in increasing admission. Yassky said if the building plan includes 700 beds instead, it would be beneficial to the university.

“This is a part of a larger master plan for a number of projects for Carolina Housing,” he said, “So, to be able to build more beds in the first project helps with the total project, because that’s more revenue that you’re generating sooner in the master plan.”

The construction plans received vocal support from UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, who praised them during Thursday’s board meeting.

“The first new dorm to be built on campus — especially to build it on the north campus — in 20 years, is a big deal,” said Roberts, “That’s a significant project that will make a big difference to the student life experience.”

The next step will be for the trustees to select a construction firm from the list provided to them by Facilities, Planning and Design.

“We received seven proposals, and four firms were selected for interview, which happened earlier this month,” Yassky said. “The selection is based on the performance of these firms on prior projects of similar scope, their experience on our campus specifically, and their experience in the state construction office.”

The full Budget, Finance, and Infrastructure Committee meeting, other Board of Trustees committees’ meetings from Wednesday, and Thursday’s board meeting can be watched on UNC’s YouTube channel.

Featured photo via Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill.

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UNC Trustees Move Forward With Plans to Construct On-Campus New Residence Hall

The UNC Board of Trustees approved requests for a construction manager and site selection for "Residence Hall 1," the first new residence hall on UNC's campus since 2006.

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