With a student population of more than 22,300 and growing, the need for additional facilities and infrastructure continues to be a priority at UNC Charlotte. A variety of new facilities are under construction.

Dickson Gate, the new front entrance to UNC Charlotte, is nearing completion. With the University’s tremendous growth, safe traffic flow and pedestrian safety has become a priority. The former entrance has now been closed and a new traffic light has been installed 750 feet south at the University’s stately new entrance. An attractive, landscaped two-lane divided road with bicycle lanes leads to a traffic circle on Broadrick Blvd. Eight 20-foot tall brick pylons have been installed along Highway 49 marking the arrival to UNC Charlotte. The first phase of the project is funded, in part, by a generous donation from The Dickson Foundation Inc. and Harris Teeter, Inc.

Brick is now being placed on the outside of the $65 million, 200,000 square foot new Student Union. The new Union will include dining hall services, the bookstore, a movie theatre, a multi-purpose room, and other student–friendly amenities. Two hundred and fifty student organizations will occupy the facility. The Student Union is still on schedule to open in the summer of 2009.

A new 400-bed residence hall will be constructed adjacent to Laurel and Lynch Halls along Cameron Blvd. near the Student Union. The hall is scheduled to be open for fall semester of 2011. A 1,000-car parking deck will open at the same time the new residence hall is occupied.

Academic facilities are in various stages of completion on campus.

Joining The Duke Centennial and William H. Grigg Building is the new $35 million Bioinformatics Building on the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) campus adjacent to Highway 29. Completion of this building is expected in the summer of 2009.

Planning has begun for the fifth major building at CRI. The Partnership, Outreach and Research for Accelerated Learning (PORTAL) Building will support research, technology transfer and economic development initiatives.

The Ben Craig Center, the University’s business incubator will relocate from University Research Park to PORTAL.

A second motorsports building is also in the planning process and will sit adjacent to Duke Centennial Hall. The motorsports program is highly sought after and rapidly growing. Six additional faculty members are in the process of being hired to accommodate the demand of motorsports – an area that contributes $6 billion annually to the N.C. economy.

The Center City Classroom Building in uptown Charlotte is currently in the design process. Design is being developed by Gantt Huberman from Charlotte and Kieran-Timberlake of Philadelphia. Rodgers Builders of Charlotte is the construction manager. Located at Ninth Street and Brevard, construction is anticipated to begin in November of 2009.

These current construction projects will enable the University to serve the growing population of students. UNC Charlotte is projected to have an enrollment of 35,000 students by the year 2020.

For more information, contact Buffie Stephens, 704.687.5830 or dbsteph1@uncc.edu.