UNC WILMINGTON

Ricca Design Studios worked alongside Perkins Eastman, Architect of Record, for the brand-new dining facility at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The 20,000 SF facility provides the Wilmington campus with an all-you-care-to-eat dining experience, as well as a Starbucks retail option, all under one roof. The newly constructed student housing village, made up of four residence halls and adding 1,814 beds, is located adjacent to the new dining facility, allowing for ease of access and convenience to busy students. One of the unique aspects of this project is the integration of indoor/outdoor dining. The Hawk Walk is a brand-new pedestrian corridor that connects the newly constructed residence halls with the academic core of campus. The dining hall is perfectly situated between the two, with views over the new athletic fields and the beautiful Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve. Given those adjacencies and the University’s location in coastal Wilmington, outdoor dining is an obvious feature to include, and it truly celebrates dining as an integral component of the campus and student life.