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

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

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Digital Edition