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2024 Campus Master Plan

2024 Campus Master Plan

The UNCW Strategic Plan “Soar Higher” is a bold institutional vision that inspired this plan for the future of the campus. The 2024 Campus Master Plan provides direction for physical improvements to help realize the vision of the strategic plan.

The principles, program, and placemaking strategies outlined in the plan represent an intentional synthesis of interrelated ideas and goals to begin the process of physically embodying the goals of the university’s strategic plan. The Campus Master Plan is a road map for future growth, while allowing flexibility in its implementation. The plan is based on a series of historical, land use and natural frameworks that guide the recommendations laid out in this document.

See the full 2024 Campus Master Plan PDF
Chancellor Volety

Message from the Chancellor

With this master plan, we are setting the stage for physical development that will enhance the student experience, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen our connection to the region and community.

More from Chancellor Volety

Key Outcomes

The purpose of the 2024 Campus Master Plan Update is to create a holistic framework for the highest and best use of the University's physical assets to meet UNCW's strategic goals.

  • Campus Master Plan goals are in alignment with institutional strategic initiatives, providing long-term views that can inform day-to-day decision-making.
  • Recommendations are data-driven and rooted in UNCW’s unique campus culture.
  • Concepts are visionary and practical, built on historic growth patterns, and tailored to address campus needs at a variety of scales.
  • Integration of campus systems is thoughtfully reflected in land use, space use, architecture, landscape, utilities, circulation and parking recommendations.
  • Collaborative engagement with various stakeholders throughout the process provides a deep understanding of UNCW’s challenges and opportunities.
  • Regular engagement with UNCW’s Core Planning Team and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) creates more direct feedback loops and allows leadership to engage as true thought partners.

Schedule

The 2024 Campus Master Plan is the result of an 18-month collaborative process with the campus community and the university’s host community. Data collection and research for the Campus Master Plan commenced in the spring of 2023. Over the following year, the planning team developed multiple iterations of analysis and options informed by input from the executive leadership team and broader university community.

students look at the campus master plan during a bfsa welcome week cookout

Phase 1: Discovery & Analysis

This phase establishes an understanding of existing conditions, assets, issues, program needs, and aspirations, as well as the UNCW mission, vision, and strategic plan. Analysis of needs and physical opportunities are used to generate multiple concepts for land use, open space, circulation and infrastructure.

chancellor discusses campus master plan

Phase 2: Concept Advancement & Refinement

The preferred concept is tested with stakeholder input and refined by developing strategies for program accommodation and synergistic adjacencies, leveraging physical opportunities, and creating a connected open space network and campus edge/gateway identity.

leadership discuss the masterplan around a table.

Phase 3: Integration & Implementation

Natural and man-made campus systems are coordinated to reinforce the overall land use strategy and campus framework. The final plan, computer model and graphics are created to illustrate proposed projects and implementation strategies.

a presentation of the campus master plan is being given during welcome week.

Phase 4: Publication & Presentation

Documentation of the process and final recommendations of the 2024 Campus Master Plan is presented to various UNCW constituents and approved by the Board of Trustees.

Stakeholder Engagement

Over 1,700 students, faculty, alumni, staff, and Wilmington community members participated in the Campus Master Plan open forums and online surveys. A website page was created with UNCW’s Office of University Relations to effectively share progress on the plan’s development, obtain feedback on plan priorities, and encourage participation in on-campus and virtual input sessions. Throughout the process, the planning team facilitated more than 70 campus meetings to include a wide range of stakeholders and campus users.

Key Takeaways

50%

50% of off-campus student respondents have difficulty finding a parking spot

60%

60% of on-campus student respondents have difficulty finding a parking spot

25%

25% of student respondents use a bike or board to get around campus

Campus Commons

While the Campus Commons was unanimously the heart of campus and many respondents favorite spot on campus, it was also the #1 area respondents felt needed improvement.

16%

16% of off-campus student respondents live off-campus because of a lack of on-campus housing availability

Nature

Trees, greenery and ponds are by far everyone's favorite aspect of campus

1 of 3

One out of every three respondents perceived the Suites parking lot to be the most unsafe place on campus

Top Requests

All Respondents

  • Dining/Coffee
  • Lounge/Study
  • WiFi/Tech

On-Campus Students

  • Social Spaces
  • Convenience to Stores

Off-Campus Students

  • Convenient Parking
  • Places to Spend Time Between Classes

Recurring Themes

Most visited place for off-campus students when not in class.

Top requested enhancements include dedicated routes for pedestrians, shaded seating and walking paths, and additional landscaping.

There is a lot of interest in interdisciplinary research from CMS.

Staff responses had a greater emphasis on wellness and wayfinding than faculty responses.

Top requested amenities were Pub/Coffee/Food and Lounge/Meeting.

75% of respondents said they would or might go to a Welcome/Alumni Center if it existed

Message from the Chancellor

The 2024 Campus Master Plan for the University of North Carolina Wilmington reflects our shared vision for the future, rooted in the values and aspirations of our strategic plan, Soar Higher. It signifies opportunity, serving as a roadmap for the next decade of growth, innovation and transformation. With this master plan, we are setting the stage for physical development that will enhance the student experience, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen our connection to the region and community. 

Crafted through a thoughtful and inclusive process, this plan is the culmination of 18 months of collaboration with the UNCW community and key stakeholders. It outlines strategic investments in academic programs, campus infrastructure and community engagement, all of which are designed to ensure that UNCW continues to be a beacon of excellence in education, research and service. The master plan also reflects our commitment to sustainability, resilience and the responsible stewardship of our natural and human resources. 

The plan will guide us through the development of new facilities, the renovation of existing spaces, and the creation of more dynamic, accessible and welcoming environments across our campus. It is designed to be flexible, allowing us to adapt to changing conditions and future opportunities while staying true to our core mission of supporting the success of our students, faculty and staff. 

I want to express my gratitude to the Executive Leadership Team, the Board of Trustees, and the numerous campus and community members who contributed their insights and expertise to this master plan. Together, we have created a vision that will shape the future of UNCW, positioning North Carolina’s coastal university to continue soaring in the years ahead. 

This is an exciting moment in UNCW’s history, and I look forward to the transformative changes that this master plan will inspire on our campus and in our region. 

Aswani K. Volety
Chancellor

Elements of the Master Plan

Strategic Alignment UNCW's 2024 Campus Master Plan supports the four pillars of the university's Strategic Plan, "Soar Higher." Supporting the Strategic Plan
Growth + Space A look at how much space UNCW is likely to need at current and projected enrollment, staffing and activity levels. Space Assessment
Plan Overview A summary of what the Campus Master Plan calls for across different areas of campus. Key Concepts & Recommendations
Follow the process leading to the 2024 Campus Master Plan