This Red House

It has been more than 80 years since NC State built a new chancellor’s residence. A thing or two has changed since 1928 – like the advent of central heat and air conditioning, which are among the many “retrofittings” that have taken place at the residence. The way the residence is used has changed a great deal, too, as the university has grown.

The need for a new residence more specifically designed for meeting the needs of a large university has become apparent. Last spring, ground was broken on a new residence. And despite this particularly hot North Carolina summer, construction is in full swing.

The new home is located on Lake Raleigh, near the Park Alumni Center.  The residence is scheduled for completion by this time next year and will be financed by private gifts. The home was designed by College of Design Dean Marvin Malecha, FAIA.

“The exterior of the home is very much a traditional style. When people come up to the residence, they’ll have an immediate feeling of familiarity – that this is what a home feels like. We’re using traditional landscaping and traditional materials. But when you walk into the house, you’ll see it is more modern than you’d think,” Malecha explains. “That was a struggle for us – to use familiar forms but with a modern expression. But I think this design does it. It will speak to the roots of NC State, but also to what the university has become.”

The lower level of the residence – about 5,000 square feet — will be the “public” portion of the home, where large receptions and events will be held for NC State students, employees, alumni and friends. The second floor will serve as the living quarters for the chancellor’s family.

NC State’s University Communications office recently launched the This Red House blog which will follow the building of the new chancellor’s residence. The blog will include interesting facts and features, pictures, videos and interviews relating to the design and construction of the new residence.

You can also follow updates on NC State’s Flickr page, the NC State News Facebook Page, the NC State News Twitter account and the university’s YouTube channel.