With more than 250 buildings, the University’s evolution is reflected in the architectural styles spread across campus.
In its earliest days, UNC consisted of just eight structures clustered around the Old Well. These early buildings were built in a colonial style. As the University expanded further south, its architecture became more modern. Over the past 230 years, buildings spread further from the historic core, creating the sprawling South Campus students recognize today.
This data was sourced from “Names in Brick and Stone: Histories from the University’s Built Landscape”, a project created by the students in History/American Studies 671: Introduction to Public History. The class was taught by Anne Mitchell Whisnant in 2015 and 2017.
While the project originally intended to explore the namesakes of UNC buildings, it also gathered information including detailed locations, age and historical context regarding UNC buildings constructed up to 2014. The project provided a deeper understanding of how the physical campus reflects the University’s history.
