Central Piedmont Community College’s New Student Complex Reflects Stewart’s Innovative Designs
Interdisciplinary design, engineering and planning firm Stewart is making an impact across the Carolinas. The firm recently reinforced its commitment to investing and growing in the community with the announcement of two new office locations in Columbia, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, as part of its strategic growth plan. With existing office locations in Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, the firm brings a unique, collaborative approach that results in stronger and more creative design solutions.
Stewart’s Charlotte presence continues to grow, and its fingerprint can be seen throughout the Queen City. Recently, Stewart provided structural engineering and landscape architecture services for the Central Piedmont Community College student complex. Construction of the new Central Campus Library and Student Success Center will begin in August, and Stewart is helping to lay a strong foundation for the 173,000 square-foot complex that will welcome visitors and expand learning opportunities for students and faculty.
The new library and Student Success center will replace the former Terrell Building, Hagemeyer Learning Resource Center and Pease Auditorium that were recently demolished for the new project. Stewart’s unique interdisciplinary approach has allowed for innovative designs and enhanced features within the complex. The new library and Student Success Center will include advanced technology amenities that offer flexible and modern collaboration and study spaces for students. The center will host student organizations and services such as financial aid, testing, career and transfer programs and advising, as well as specialized amenities including a dining area, student commons and multi-purpose spaces.
Libraries are intended to draw people in and encourage learning and interaction, and Stewart’s structural engineering group helped intentionally design the new library to do so. The building will be welcoming to Central Piedmont Community College visitors with its new 450-seat Pease Auditorium, and will also include instructional classrooms, a private reading room, more than 25 collaboration rooms and more. The new complex will also contain several outdoor terraces.
“This building is filling a need on campus by creating a space that will be student-centered, focused on welcoming spaces, enhanced services and socially friendly environments – all to enhance opportunities for student success,” said Vicki Saville, associate vice president of facilities and construction at Central Piedmont Community College. “We’re committed to providing collaborative learning opportunities and are thankful for Stewart’s role in the design and development process of the new complex.”
In collaboration with Rodgers Builders and R.J. Leeper Construction, and architectural firm Morris-Berg Architects in association with Moody Nolan, Stewart is helping to bring the new complex to life. Construction is expected to be completed in December 2021.
“Our growth in the Charlotte community really mirrors the growth of Central Piedmont Community College and we’re honored to have partnered with an institution that shares our passion for innovation,” said Lance Williams, associate vice president and manager of structural engineering at Stewart. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to demonstrate our interdisciplinary strength and help bring innovative designs to the campus that will help drive student engagement and involvement.”
Stewart provided structural engineering services for the new North Classroom Building on Central Campus that will be completed in December 2019, as well as a new classroom building on the corner of Charlottetown and 5th Street that will be completed in July 2020. Stewart also provided structural engineering services for a new library on the Merancas Campus in Huntersville, and is providing structural engineering, civil engineering and landscape architecture services for an Advanced Technology Building on the Harper Campus in Charlotte.
