The Frank Porter Graham Student Union at UNC-Chapel Hill was originally built in the 1960s and had been expanded in the 1980s.  Both of these buildings were in need of renovation and expansion. The new 35,000 SF addition houses meeting rooms, lounges, offices for student organizations, and support facilities including a computer center, dining, television studio, and entertainment areas. Located on an extremely constricted site, the project was called “the most difficult design problem on the UNC campus in 25  years” by the University Architect. 

The design of the building reflected its location in a transitional part of the campus linking early 20th century buildings to late 20th century structures in this same area. In response to this context and the desires of the University, the new addition draws from the traditional forms and features of the historic structures in the area while rendering them in a restrained contemporary manner to help bridge the existing campus architectural divide.

As all buildings needed to work together as one unified complex, the new addition is physically connected to the original union beneath the new plaza, creating an outdoor room which the union programs for a broad range of student activities. The upper level of the buildings are connected by two bridge structures which serve as lounges and have become extremely popular places for the students to hang out.

Due to the constantly changing needs of a contemporary student union, Clearscapes was invited back by UNC-Chapel Hill to do another renovation of portions of the building that were not improved in Phase I.  That project, which includes additional food service and meeting spaces is currently under construction.