WILMINGTON — After two years of construction, the local university is unveiling it new and improved Randall Library this week.
READ MORE: Community access priority in the $56M UNCW library improvements
On Thursday, Aug. 15, UNCW will open the two library buildings — Discovery Hall and the original Randall Hall — named after former UNCW President William Madison Randall. The latter has been undergoing renovations along with Discovery’s new construction in the $56 million project, money allocated from the state budget.
Their opening comes as the new 2024-2025 college school year begins and move-in takes place this weekend. A grand opening and ribbon ceremony will be held Sept. 25, 4 p.m., on the library’s front lawn.
It’s been almost four decades since the library underwent renovations. Its last major expansion took place in 1986, when only 5,000 students attended UNCW. Now, it’s populations has soared above 18,000.
To fit its growing needs, the library will have 118,000 more square feet for students to utilize. The new three-story building will be outfitted with additional study stations, event areas and modern technology accesses.
A history of the university’s library will be on exhibit in the Discovery Hall, showing off regalia from the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History (CSENCAH) from 1947 to the present day.
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