Renovations for Bingham and Memorial Halls have continued through the first week of classes, impacting students, employees and community members on campus.
Bingham Hall, which previously housed UNC’s Department of Communication, is undergoing renovations that are expected to continue through August 2025.
Avi Santo, professor and chair of the communication department, said that there have been concerns about black mold in the walls and in the ventilation systems for several years. In 2019, the University authorized that a renovation was essential in order to replace the system with a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit.
Santo said thatBingham has essentially been abandoned for almost four years, saying that the department was relocated to Bynum Hall around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Santo said that the department and its faculty have been in Bynum since the original move due to delays in the renovation project.
In addition to the replacement of the HVAC system, UNC Media Relations Manager Beth Lutz wrote in a statement to The Daily Tar Heel that Bingham is undergoing other replacements including the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems, along with a partial roof replacement and window restoration. In the interior, renovations include new floor plans to support academic programming and office needs.
Santo said that the consequences of the project have been manageable. However, there are no classrooms in Bynum, which he said decreases the amount of community building within the department.
UNC sophomore Brooks Stevenson said he found it annoying that the construction was not finished over the summer and is now obstructing a busy student intersection on campus.
“I just think it might cause students to be late for class if they don’t find different routes,” said Stevenson. “I get that it has to be done, but I wish they found a better time of the year to do it.”
Santo acknowledged the inconvenience and frustration for students who need to walk by the building.
