North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on a new $71 million residence hall at the University of North Carolina Wilmington that will add 540 beds to the growing campus and complete development of the university’s central quad.
University leaders, local and state officials, students and community supporters gathered Feb. 6 for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the long-planned project, which is expected to open for the fall 2027 semester.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents far more than the start of a new building,” said Christine Reed Davis, UNCW vice chancellor of student affairs. “It marks an investment in our students and in the experience we want every Seahawk to have while they are here.”
The new residence hall will primarily feature double-occupancy rooms, with a limited number of singles, along with pod-style bathrooms and social and study spaces throughout the building. A two-story “Quad Commons” on the first floor will serve as a central gathering and collaboration space for residents.
UNCW Board of Trustees Chair Hugh Caison II ’85 said the project reflects a broader, community-informed strategy to manage campus growth.
“This new residence hall is more than a construction project,” Caison said. “It is a milestone in a comprehensive strategic plan created with the insight and involvement of the community, ensuring that as our university continues to expand, we are building the infrastructure our students need.”
The project comes as UNCW continues to see record enrollment growth. The university enrolled its largest first-year class to date this past fall, welcoming 3,109 new students — a 12.9% increase from fall 2024.
The residence hall will replace the former Galloway Hall, UNCW’s first student dormitory and the first air-conditioned residence hall in the UNC System. Built in 1971 and named after Edmond R. Galloway, the facility served students for more than five decades before being demolished in 2024 due to aging infrastructure. The new building will be named at a later date.
Located across from Loggerhead and Terrapin halls, the project will complete development of the campus quad.
“Our commitment to the residential experience at UNCW runs deep,” Chancellor Aswani Volety said. “Living and learning are intertwined here, and this new facility will help deliver the UNCW experience at its best.”
Construction is scheduled for completion in fall 2027.