The project includes an addition to the existing residence hall, along with renovations and repairs. Avery Residence Hall welcomed students as scheduled in August 2025. Stewart provided landscape architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering, and surveying services on the project.
Site analysis included a study of the existing grade, which prevented an accessible route to the residence hall. The design team developed accessible routes on steep slopes and transportation, emergency, and service access. The previous site amenities were uninviting and aging, and the front entrance was flanked by an underused and deteriorating brick plaza. New site furnishings, lighting, and landscape plantings were added to blend sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics. Our team’s designs incorporated a new accessible walk from the west side of the residence hall and a primary north-south pedestrian walk to the south side of the building, plus refreshed outdoor spaces, and landscaped patio.
Site civil improvements included utility improvements, a new domestic water service and backflow preventer, a new storm drainage system, new sanitary connections, new chilled water connections, a new service transformer, and new accessible pathways.
Stewart provided pre-design structural engineering for the renovations of Avery Hall. As the project was funded and approved by the University, our work continued into design and construction. The renovations and improvements to the residence hall included adding a full-height addition that adds lounges and a new elevator for each floor. Existing residential rooms were updated and reconfigured, HVAC improvements and upgrades were performed throughout the existing building, and a mechanical access walk was added in the existing building’s attic space to service the mechanical systems.
Stewart also performed existing conditions surveys of approximately four acres around the residential hall and provided laser scans and 3D models of the existing attic space in support of structural assessment and design. The field teams were able to work closely with UNC staff to coordinate access and had to be very flexible during exam week ensuring that the students were not impacted by the project. The underground infrastructure was especially challenging; Stewart team members worked closely with UNC GIS to ensure all utilities were captured.