UNC Pembroke Earns State Building Commission Merit Award
The 果冻视频 has been awarded the State Building Commission Merit Award for Excellence in Project Implementation for its innovative Village Apartments demolition project, a first-of-its-kind initiative in North Carolina that combined cost savings, public safety training and strategic campus development.
The award, presented during the 45th annual State Construction Conference, recognizes outstanding achievement in project design, construction and overall implementation across the state.
Kevin Witmore, senior project manager, and Douglas Hall, interim architect, accepted the award at a luncheon on March 5 at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh.
鈥淭his project was unique, and to our knowledge, it had never been done before on a state university campus in North Carolina,鈥� said Victor Deese, assistant vice chancellor for Facilities. 鈥淚t highlights the level of collaboration between the university, local and state agencies, community partners and emergency responders.鈥�
Between December 21, 2024, and January 5, 2025, UNCP conducted a series of controlled burns on six vacant Village Apartments buildings. Rather than pursuing traditional demolition, the university reimagined the process, transforming it into a large-scale, hands-on training opportunity for 366 firefighters and first responders from across the region.
The project also prepared the site for the future construction of a $96.8 million clinical sciences building, which will house the state's first public Doctor of Optometry program. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for April 10.
The success of the project was rooted in extensive coordination among multiple partners, including Robeson Community College, regional fire departments, the State Bureau of Investigation, local governments and private contractors.
鈥淥ur learning curve was getting the buildings ready for the burns,鈥� Deese said. 鈥淲e had to remove hazardous materials, furniture and mechanical systems before we could even consider a controlled burn. That required coordination and trust across many different entities.鈥�
Michael Bullard, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said the project required careful navigation of regulatory requirements.
鈥淲e had to work closely with state regulators and explain the benefits 鈥� both in terms of firefighter training and cost savings,鈥� Bullard said. 鈥淭his wasn't something they could immediately approve. We had to demonstrate the value of doing it this way.鈥�
Witmore emphasized the level of planning involved.
鈥淏efore we even started, we had to secure the buildings, remove materials and bring in a designer to assess feasibility and cost,鈥� Witmore said. 鈥淭here were so many moving parts. Then you layer in the live-burn training 鈥� it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.鈥�
In addition to its innovative approach, the project delivered significant financial benefits, resulting in more than $1 million in cost savings, including landfill and demolition expenses.
At the same time, it provided an invaluable training opportunity for first responders.
鈥淭his was the largest, most comprehensive live-fire training many of these firefighters had ever experienced,鈥� Bullard said. 鈥淚t also allowed law enforcement and emergency personnel 鈥� including the SBI and local agencies 鈥� to train in realistic conditions.鈥�
Witmore noted the rarity of the opportunity.
鈥淔irefighters rarely get the chance to train in multi-story buildings like these,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his gave them real-world experience that is incredibly valuable and difficult to replicate.鈥�
The statewide recognition underscores UNCP's commitment to innovation, efficiency and service.