Media Contact:
Tracey Peake, News Services, 919/515-6142

Jan. 26, 2006

University Housing, University Honors Program to Dedicate New Honors Village

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The North Carolina State University Honors Program and University Housing will celebrate the renovation of the Honors Village residence halls and completion of a new commons building with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. The dedication will be held in the Quad courtyard, which is located on NC State’s campus at the corner of Pullen Rd. and Cates Ave.

Media coverage of the dedication is invited. Media will be able to tour the new Honors Village Commons building.

The dedication ceremony will include a ribbon cutting and remarks by university officials. Following the dedication, a reception will be held in the new Honors Village Commons building.

The Honors Village represents a partnership between University Housing and the University Honors Program to create an academically vibrant living and learning experience for students in the honors program. In a project that began in December 2004, Bagwell, Becton and Berry, the residence halls known as the Quad, were completely renovated, and the Honors Village Commons, a new 8,500-square-foot building that will serve as a community center for the village, was constructed.

“University Housing is proud to partner with the University Honors Program to create the University Honors Village,” says Susan Grant, director of University Housing. “This unique living and learning environment enhances classroom experiences with life experience through opportunities for interaction with faculty and students, and through activities to promote intellectual growth. The newly renovated residence halls and brand new Honors Village Commons building will provide a wonderful backdrop for the personal and professional development of the residents.”

The $15.7 million project, funded from auxiliary services revenue, was undertaken primarily to update buildings that were constructed in the 1930s. Air conditioning, elevators and fire suppression systems were added to each of the three residence halls, along with new drywall, furnishings and hall carpeting. The newly-built Honors Village Commons houses the village’s 24-hour service desk and student mailboxes, as well as a convenience store, computer lab, staff offices and classroom/meeting space.

“The creation of the University Honors Village is an outstanding example of an effective partnership between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs – innovation in action that will create
unique opportunities for NC State students,” says Dr. Larry Blanton, director of the University
Honors Program. “For example, Bagwell Hall is the site of a visiting scholar apartment, occupied
for the spring semester by the award-winning author Jill McCorkle, who will offer special programs for our students. This is an historic area of campus already, and we look forward to
contributing to that history and building upon its traditions.”

- peake -