On May 19th, UNCW and Randall Library broke ground on the much-awaited Expansion and Renovation project, officially marking the transition from design to construction. Expected completion of the $56M project is late 2024. 

The groundbreaking ceremony included remarks by UNCW officials including Chancellor Sartarelli, Provost Winebrake, and Board of Trustees chairperson Bridget Kidd, as well as by NC state senator Michael Lee. Of special note were the remarks delivered by Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning & Library Services and Dean of the Library, Dr. Lucy Holman describing our vision for the library expansion and renovation (PDF). 

The outdoor ceremony took place on the west side of the current Randall Library building, the site of the new 80,000 sq. ft. expansion and was followed by a reception in Randall’s Sherman Hayes Gallery. Food and spirits were served while guests received tours of the library’s Digital Makerspace, were shown renderings and floor plans for the expansion, interacted with a visualization of library data, and browsed a special exhibit highlighting 70 years of Randall Library history created by the Randall Library Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History.  

Photo credit Jeff Janowski, UNCW staff photographer.