The University is embarking on its largest expansion in history with the Carolina North campus extension, a sign of how UNC-Chapel Hill is growing to serve the state. | Photo Credit: Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill
- UNC-Chapel Hill鈥檚 Board of Trustees selected Ayers Saint Gross to lead the master planning process for the Carolina North campus expansion.听
- The听selection听comes as UNC launches a new stakeholder advisory committee intended to provide public-facing feedback on access,听innovation听and community integration.听
- UNC says the advisory committee will meet in public forums every two months and is advisory only, with no decision-making authority.听
- Carolina North is planned as a 230-acre 鈥渓ive, work, play and learning鈥� district on听University-owned land along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.听
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. 鈥� In May, UNC-Chapel Hill made progress听on its Carolina North campus expansion project, naming a stakeholder advisory committee and selecting a master听plan听designer听to help shape the project鈥檚 layout,听infrastructure听and phased development.听
The University announced the creation of the Carolina North Stakeholder Advisory Committee, a group of representatives from the University, community,听alumni听and students charged with providing feedback on how the 230-acre expansion aligns access,听innovation听and community integration,听.听
鈥淐arolina North is a generational opportunity to build on our mission, our values and our responsibility to serve the state of North Carolina,鈥� Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said,听.听
UNC said the committee will meet in public forums every two months and听emphasized听the group is advisory only and does not have decision-making authority.听Two days after the committee announcement, the UNC Board of Trustees unanimously selected Ayers Saint Gross, a Maryland-based firm, as the master plan designer for Carolina North after reviewing 17 proposals.听
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Nate Knuffman told trustees the firm showed 鈥渟trong alignment鈥� with the University鈥檚 request for qualifications and will help develop a land-use plan for the site,听.听
The firm鈥檚 scope includes a traffic impact analysis, drainage study, concept plans for utilities and sustainability benchmarks, with the master planning process expected to take 12 to 14 months. UNC previously worked with Ayers Saint Gross on the University鈥檚 2019 physical master plan.听
On the Carolina North听project听website, UNC describes the project as its largest campus expansion since its founding, covering听230 acres听of 鈥渓ive, work, play and learning鈥� spaces. The planned first phase includes shared spaces for learning and community, research and bioengineering facilities, student and family housing, and retail,听dining听and entertainment.听
This article is based on reporting originally published by UNC-Chapel Hill on May 12, 2026; reporting originally published by Chapelboro.com on May 14, 2026; and project details published on the Carolina North website.听