CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — The University of North Carolina has identified sites that could potentially be the new home of the storied men’s college basketball team.
University officials have long discussed the possibility of renovating or replacing the Smith Center, which was finished in 1986.
In a final report from the “Physical Master Plan Working Group” that was presented to officials in early August but only made public this week, several infrastructure and capital projects were analyzed, including future plans for the Dean Dome.
“The Smith Center discussion centered on various repair or replacement options aimed at ensuring the future success of Carolina basketball while maximizing what it provides for the university community and Carolina athletics,” the report stated.
According to the report, an arena committee has been working with “multiple consultants over the past six months” to study and evaluate different options.
“Committee work has included analysis of costs, future earnings, site conditions and stakeholder input,” the report said. “The Smith Center discussion centered on eight options that would create a dynamic environment that supports the planned athletic uses in an economically sustainable fashion.”
In all, six studies were done: two for off-campus sites, two for on-campus sites, and two that would utilize the current Smith Center location on Skipper Bowles Drive. All sites would be able to fit a 16,000-seat arena, according to the report’s takeaways, and be able to accommodate cars leaving the locations within 60 minutes “without development of new roadways,” although a footnote acknowledges further study of traffic impacts is needed.
For the two on-campus sites, the report said existing parking lots and garages would be sufficient. For the two off-campus sites, the studies found that the “mixed-use program can be accommodated” at both of them, and they worked under the assumption that “the University will provide bus transit for on-campus students for each game (3,000 max per game).
Here are the sites studied and their notes from the report:
Bowles Parking Lot (on-campus)
- The site would need a “non-traditional training layout”
- An existing 40″ storm sewer and “campus-wide chilled water line” on-site would need to be addressed
- 620 parking spaces would need to be replaced
Odum Village (on-campus)
- The site conflicts with the campus’ current master plan land use (academic, research, and ecological restoration)
Friday Center (off-campus)
- The site is not within a “safe walking distance from campus”
- Structured parking would need to be built for the arena and mixed-use needs
- Everything currently on site would need to be relocated
Carolina North (off-campus)
- The site is not within a “safe walking distance from campus”
- More study of the utility infrastructure of the location is needed to “quantify costs and schedule”
Dean Center Renovation and Dean Center Replacement (existing site)
- Both plans would require the men’s basketball team to play elsewhere during construction
- Both plans would require the construction of a new natatorium to house a training facility for both the men’s and women’s teams
According to the report, the next steps include finalizing a decision “resulting from ongoing committee work this fall” and creating a plan to communicate it to stakeholders and the public.
“Should the Smith Center site become available, proactive planning for site development should be started immediately,” the report said.