Students returning to campus after summer break found significant changes in the Court of North Carolina with the construction of a new stairway leading to the 1911 Building.
The stairway was the third and final installment of a campaign to renovate and update the Court of North Carolina and to add an outdoor classroom to the court, according to Landscape Project Manger Lynn Swank.
During the last fiscal year, University administration set aside a sum of money to plan for potential overall shortfalls in the budget. However, those cuts were not necessary, and the University was left with extra money that had to be used for projects constructed by the end of the fiscal year – June 30.
Swank said the University has been renovating the Court of North Carolina for over a decade.
“This project has been something that has been in the works since the mid-1990s,” Swank said.
The overall budget for phase three was $326,000, which included the cost of walls, pavers, irrigation, sod and trees, according to Swank.
Riley Contracting Group out of Cary contracted the third phase of the project, Swank said. Most of the bricks were obtained from Winston-Salem, but some of the bricks used in the project were reused bricks from around the campus.
“The caveat with the money was that it had to go to projects that could be completed by June 30,” Swank said. “We started the project in April, and it carried us through until the third week in June, almost the end of the fiscal year.”
According to Swank, the time constraints created by the lack of budget shortfall eventually turned out to be a positive thing.
“About half of the project was completed during the summer semester, a sleepy time on campus,” Swank said.
Student impact during the construction period was a high priority for University facilities staff. The closing of the alleyway between Park Shops and Poe Hall was the main point of pedestrian impact during the project, according to Swank. This area was used to get trucks into the construction area. None of the building entrances were impacted, and only the northwest area of the sidewalk in front of the 1911 Building was closed.
Swank said she thinks the overall Court of North Carolina project – which also included the construction of an accessible path from Current Drive, an overlook terrace and a speed table– will benefit the student body.
“Not only did we add a new accessible walkway down into the Court [of North Carolina], but we also increased lawn area in a popular spot for students to hang out, read and bask in the sun,” Swank said.
Stephen Smith, a junior in mechanical engineering, said he is slightly disappointed to see the construction of the new steps.
“They look nice, but I can no longer sled down the big hill when it snows,” Smith said.
Sarah Cummings, a freshman in statistics, said she is extremely satisfied with the new look that the stairs bring to campus.
“When I walk down the new stairs looking out into the Court of North Carolina, I am filled with delight.” Cummings said. “It makes me proud to be a Wolfpacker.”
Swank said she thinks it makes the whole area look – and function – better.
“The Court [of North Carolina] is considered an iconic location on campus, along with the Brickyard and the Free Expression Tunnel,” Swank said. “This development in the Court makes the area something that the whole campus community can be proud of.”
