FAQ: All about Carolina North

Where is the Carolina North site located?

The proposed for the Carolina North campus is located on a 250-acre parcel in the Carolina North Forest 2 1/2 miles from the University's main campus, near the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Estes Drive. The site borders a variety of pre-existing University facilities, including grounds maintenance and storage buildings, and some construction will replace the pre-existing Horace Mann Airport.

What kinds of buildings will Carolina North include?

The Carolina North site will include a wide variety of structures. Projects flagged for early completion include the Innovation Center, a new Law School building, in addition to research institutes and faculty and student housing. Additional buildings, including restaurants, retail and other privately-owned business centers, will be added periodically throughout the project's development. The development agreement requires that 25 percent of all square footage on the new campus be devoted to housing.

How will Carolina North be connected to the University's main campus?

Plans for the site include the option to tap into already operating regional transit lines, bikeways and roads. Additionally, a bus service is proposed to run continuously between Carolina North and the main campus. An inter-campus shuttle for transport throughout the Carolina North site will also be developed.

How long will it take to build the campus?

Carolina North is a part of the University's larger proposed development goals for the next 50 years. The Carolina North site will be build in stages, with the first 15 years centered on developing the infrastructure and early identity of the campus. Work will begin on the Innovation Center sometime in the next 2 years.

How will Carolina North be funded?

The state will fund about half of the initial buildings on the campus. Some buildings will be privately funded, and others will pay for themselves through rent. Initial infrastructure costs are expected to be more than $220 million.

Why is Carolina North being developed?

The University has identified Carolina North as the proposed "center of collaboration" for its varied research initiatives. By serving as a focal point for future academic and corporate research, the Carolina North campus is meant to build upon the University's status as a major center for research and development. Concerns about the University's increased enrollment and pressing need for space to grow also have played a role in the development of Carolina North.

Who is in charge of Carolina North?

As an extension of UNC-Chapel Hill, the UNC Board of Trustees will oversee Carolina North. Longtime professor and former Kenan-Flagler Business School Dean Jack Evans was named Carolina North's executive director in 2006. On the University side, Evans leads planning efforts for the campus. However, development of the site has been entrusted to a the combined efforts of University, Carolina North and town officials, who will meet regularly to discuss the progress and problems associated with construction and implementation of the University's larger design plan.

What stage is the project in?

The council and UNC's Board of Trustees approved a 20-year development agreement for Carolina North in June 2009. However, budget issues and the larger economic recession affecting the country and the region have stalled any construction. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. the California-based builder hired to construct the Innovation Center, has put all plans on hold, citing the current economic climate. At the present time, the University says it is focused on raising money to begin building.