Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

East Carolina University Selects Architect for $60M Residence Hall Renovations

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/13/25

East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., recently announced that it has selected the KWK/Jenkins Peer Architects (JPA) team, collaborating with INTREPID Architecture, to design renovations for two of its residence halls, according to a news release. The goal of the $60-million project is to offer more modern amenities, accessibility, and a better use of space for Jones Hall (built in 1958) and Legacy Hall (built in 1960).

The news release reports that Jones Hall has room for about 430 students and houses the university’s Campus Living offices. Legacy Hall has room for about 470 students and is the only residence hall on campus that is not ADA-compliant. Construction on Legacy Hall will begin in May 2025 and finish by July 2026. Construction on Jones Hall has an expected start date of May 2026 and completion date of July 2027.

Legacy Hall exterior
Image Courtesy of KWK Architects

The work includes replacing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in both halls; updating windows and roofs; installing private facilities in hall bathrooms; creating an ADA-compliant, ground-floor entrance to Legacy Hall; adding public lounge space and an elevator to Legacy Hall; and building the green space around both halls.

“The Legacy work will include the addition of a two-story mezzanine room to reinforce a contemporary sense of place and provide a welcoming space for students, in addition to incorporating access to a new elevator for all floors,” said Javier Esteban, KWK Architects Principal. “The renovation of both halls will also include updated, individual bathrooms that allow complete privacy for the students, and at the same time far exceeds ADA requirements.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.

  • Health & Science Building

    Health & Science Building

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Health & Science Building has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Planning with Clarity: Using AI to Make Better Campus Decisions, Not Just Better Designs

    Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly high-stakes decisions about campus facilities amid greater uncertainty than ever before. Social and economic pressures, shifting enrollment, and evolving learning models compete with growing deferred maintenance needs to strain even the most robust infrastructure budgets.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.