UNCG to break ground on new residence hall in May

UNCG’s Board of Trustees assembled in Alexander room of the EUC last Thursday to discuss a proposal that would give them one vote on the committee that recommends firms for university building projects. Therefore, their voices would be heard earlier in the selection process with the goal to present more opportunities for local workers such as for designers, construction managers, and general contractors who bids and manages project on behalf of the university. Amongst the newest projects is a new eco-friendly residence hall.

During a recent discussion of potential designers and construction managers for the Quad and dining hall renovations, Richard “Skip” Moore, who sits on the business affairs committee, arose the question of why more design and engineering firms in Guilford and surrounding counties were not being recommended for projects. UNCG Vice Chancellor for business affairs, Reade Taylor, recently presented the idea to hire more local workers to members of the board of trustees’ business affairs committee. At the meeting, the board positively expressed their interest. Taylor said some trustees have expressed concerns that the university is not using local designers to the extent that it is. One trustee said that if the locals pay taxes in North Carolina, they should be able to receive work from the state in exchange.

In May, UNCG will break ground on its first “green” residence hall. The 400-bed, $30 million building will be called Tower Village II and will stand at the southwest corner of Spring Garden and Kenilworth Avenue consisting of approximately 35 percent double rooms and 65 percent singles, suite style. The six-story structure will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) standards set by the US Building Council and is expected to save an estimate of 30 percent on energy consumption. The 170,000-square-foot building will also serve as a living-learning community and will include classroom and administrative spaces to support an upper-class living-learning program. Retail space for a food court or C-Store will be established on the street level. The new hall will expand on UNCG’s idea of encouraging students to live on campus and immerse them in the full college experience, said UNCG Housing and Residence Life Director, Mary Hummel.

Tower Village II is undertaken by the UNCG-affiliated Capital Facilities Foundation, which has selected Pearce Brinkley Cease and Lee in association, which is a local firm based in North Carolina with offices in both Raleigh and Asheville, along with Ayers/Saint/Gross, to design the new residence hall. It is projected to open in August 2011.