By Eric Althoff
WILMINGTON, N.C.鈥擟ontractor Balfour Beatty鈥檚 Campus Solutions department has finished its work on the University of North Carolina Wilmington鈥檚 (UNCW) Student Village, according to a recent announcement by the firm.
The two-phased project entailed building space for 776 new student beds as well as a student 鈥渟uccess center.鈥� Earlier work encompassed a coffee shop, more than 1,000 student beds as well as a convenience shop.
A celebration was held for the opening of the new construction at the end of October. The work was funded in a joint public-private partnership.
The Student Village is the most recent work that Balfour Beatty has undertaken at UNCW. Previous construction at the campus by the contractor includes a parking garage, Dobo Hall and the Allied Health Building.
Balfour Beatty鈥檚 partners on the project included designer Clark Nexsen Architecture and Engineering and the nonprofit Collegiate Housing Foundation.
鈥淲e are excited to deliver this transformational project for UNCW in conjunction with our partners, including Balfour Beatty鈥檚 US Building Operations,鈥� Bob Shepko, division president for Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions, said in a recent statement. 鈥淭his effort truly exemplifies what effective collaboration can create, and the community wouldn鈥檛 be what it is today without the contribution of all stakeholders.鈥�
Added Tony Stoneking, senior vice president of Balfour Beatty鈥檚 operations in North Carolina: 鈥淚t was a collective team effort with our design partners, the university, the state construction office and Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions to successfully deliver another project for UNC Wilmington. We couldn鈥檛 be more proud of what our team accomplished over the last three years, especially their resiliency in overcoming impacts from the pandemic and hurricanes.
鈥淭he construction of the Student Village is the fourth project our project team has successfully delivered since 2020, and we look forward to more opportunities to meet the growing needs of UNC Wilmington students and faculty.鈥�
Balour Beatty has performed other educational work at the University of Iowa, Purdue University and the University of Texas, Dallas.