CHF Project at UNC Wilmington Named ‘Best New Development’

May 9, 2022
University of North Carolina Wilmington
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UNCW has been recognized for its innovative Student Housing Village project by the Student Housing Business Magazine. The housing village is this year’s recipient of the Best New Development by a College, University or Institution Award.

Student Housing Business Magazine recognizes student housing owners, developers, operators, architecture firms and universities for excellence in student housing development, marketing and operations. The “Best New Development” award is presented to a project that solves a unique need for the university/college, architecture/design, how the project fits into the campus fabric and how the project performed relative to budget/timing.

The Student Housing Village was recognized during the 2022 Student Housing Business Innovator Awards held May 5 in Austin, Texas. This year’s submissions were judged by a team of more than 100 student housing industry experts.

In 2017, the university identified the need for new student housing to support growth and retention. The damage caused by Hurricane Florence in 2018 resulted in the closure of some campus housing, making the $147 million student housing project even more critical. University officials worked with design and construction partners to develop buildings prepared to weather future storms.

“Considering the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Florence and incredible challenges posed by the pandemic, it took a real partnership to bring the new Student Housing Village to fruition at UNCW,” said Miles Lackey, vice chancellor of business affairs. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team at UNCW – from finance and facilities to student affairs, everyone pulled together to make this possible. Our external partners, including Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions, Clark Nexsen, and Collegiate Housing Foundation, were great to work with and enabled us to be extremely nimble and creative as we developed the project you see today.”

The Student Housing Village consists of four resident halls – Pelican and Sandpiper, completed in 2020, and Loggerhead and Terrapin, which opened in 2021. The housing village provides 1,814 beds and program spaces, including a student success center, classrooms, maker spaces, large meeting rooms, and dining venues on a vibrant market-like street and a connecting path that guides students to Chancellor’s Walk and the academic heart of campus. The project has reshaped the first- and second-year students’ residential experience with a dynamic living-learning environment.

The project was delivered on time and within budget despite adverse weather events, the global pandemic, supply chain issues and labor shortages.

“With our new buildings, UNCW has demonstrated its commitment to providing world-class residential facilities that are designed to be developmentally appropriate and showcase best practices in residential design,” said Kevin Meaney, director of housing and residence life.