Building Wake Forest’s Future
Wake Forest is excited to announce its most ambitious space planning effort: the work began in 2024 with the Near-Term Central Campus Space Plan (Near-Term Space Plan) and will now continue with the Bicentennial Comprehensive Campus Space Plan (Bicentennial Space Plan), a new holistic plan that will replace our 2009 Campus Master Plan and 2019 plan update.
The Near-Term Space Plan focus is unlocking the campus core to address immediate campus space needs. The Bicentennial Space Plan will look forward to the next decade as we consider all Wake Forest spaces and real estate and how best to use them to support the strategic framework and Wake Forest’s future.
Near-Term Space Plan
Active Phase
Purpose
- Unlock the campus core: Relocate non-student facing administrative units to create a more student-centric space in the core of campus.
Key Milestones
- Renovation of Alumni Hall into a mix of closed and open collaborative and community spaces, including general-use classrooms, offices, and research, experiential learning, gathering, and study spaces. The departments of Computer Science, Education, Philosophy and the Entrepreneurship Program will call this building their new academic home.
- Construction of a new Student Center with new main dining hall and spaces for student-facing support services, engagement, and community.
- Transition of Benson University Center into general-use classrooms, offices, and research, experiential learning, gathering, and study spaces.
Bicentennial Space Plan
Planning Phase
Purpose
- Create a visionary and actionable framework that guides Wake Forest University in its campus development over the coming decades
- Address key drivers, such as space needs to support excellence in teaching, learning, research, wellbeing, and mentorship, infrastructure upgrades, and campus connectivity, to ensure that the physical campus supports the University’s strategic goals
- Create a plan that enhances campus life, promotes sustainability, and fosters a cohesive real estate strategy that positions the University for long-term success
Key Milestones
- Establish a Project Team, multiple Working Groups, and a large and representative Advisory Group to inform the project.
- Begin holding Listening Sessions for students, faculty, and staff to provide feedback and help discern key issues for the future
Our space planning efforts will:
Address significant academic, living and learning space needs, particularly in the College, while addressing deferred maintenance.
Enhance the experience and quality of undergraduate, graduate, and professional education in the campus core while sustaining the hallmarks of the Campus Master Plan. The master plan for Wake Forest’s Reynolda Campus was originally developed by New York architect Jens Fredrick Larson in the 1940s and1950s. The plan has since been revised several times and was updated in 2019 by Ayers Saint Gross.
Match the needs and expectations of new programs, potential and current faculty and staff, in a forward thinking manner.
When will all of this happen?
This is the question at the top of most people’s minds. The answer is “Not tomorrow.” Planning for and executing such a comprehensive plan is extremely complicated and requires meticulous planning.
Near-Term Space Planning is estimated to take place from 2024-2027.
Bicentennial Space Planning is just in the beginning stages. We estimate the creation of the plan will continue through 2027. Implementing the pieces of that plan will depend on many things, including budgeting and financing of the plan. This is a much longer-term effort.
From the Project Sponsors
We are all part of one Wake Forest University dedicated to providing our students with a transformative education and experience and we have a big challenge on our hands – too little space that does not meet our current learning needs. We are all in this shared mission together… we are on the cusp of some meaningful, intentional space decisions that ensure a transformative education and professional experience.
Michele Gillespie
Provost
Since 2021, President Wente has made space a major priority based on listening to many of you…on our ongoing, urgent needs. Space challenges that we have not met can be met now through the lens of our Strategic Framework: in the near-term projects, the administrative cluster being built at The Grounds, and through the Bicentennial Comprehensive Campus Space Plan.
Jacqueline A. Travisano
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer