Construction is the word at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill these days.
UNC's development plan for campus expansion over the next eight years was approved by the Chapel Hill Town Council Thursday in an 8-1 vote, a stamp of approval necessary for the school to move forward with its plans.
The development plan is the first phase of the university's 50-year master plan to outline campus growth. The proposed increase will include 41 new buildings and add almost 6 million square feet to the existing 13.6 million square feet.
The additions also will include 950 new upperclassmen apartments, new student-family housing and new science and arts buildings, according to Coordinator of Local Relations Linda Convissor.
"We had great student involvement in the campus master plan," Convissor said.
Students wanted the campus to feel more like a community that would connect both the historic and modern aspects of Chapel Hill.
The expansion program, which is now underway, was developed a few years ago through the joint efforts of the North Carolina state legislature and the university. Chapel Hill will receive a billion dollars over the next eight to 10 years. Half of this was mandated by the bond referendum in the state government.
"I think this is really a step in the right direction," said Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction at UNC.
Students and faculty generally are excited about the expansion despite minor inconveniences. They understand its necessity and are supportive, Runberg said.
"I think that UNC will succeed at what it is trying to do," said University President John T. Casteen III. "There is no impact on U.Va. because universities do not really compete with each another in fund raising."
The University also has a master plan for future development, but this plan is less specific than the one in place at UNC. The University has a general plan that was developed over the past several years showing locations where buildings could be constructed someday, said Laurie Pohl, the University's head planner.
Officials will continue to work with the deans from different schools at the University to establish specifics for the next three to five years.
Projects at the University are often funded by private philanthropy and alumni donations, not state funding. UNC's expansion eventually may result in development at other state universities as well.
"It shows you that the competitive stakes for the public universities across the country are going up with governments putting major funding into other universities," said Bob Sweeney, University vice president of development.
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