This Red House

Construction is in full swing on a new chancellor’s residence on Centennial Campus. Located near the Park Alumni Center, the new house will be home to Wolfpack gatherings for years to come.

The 8,500-square foot, $3 million building is being financed with private gifts. When it’s finished about this time next year, it will replace the current chancellor’s residence, built  in 1928, when modern amenities like air conditioning were unknown.

To follow the progress on the new residence, visit This Red House, a blog from University Communications that features interesting facts, photos, videos and interviews about the home’s design and construction.

Building on Tradition

Marvin Malecha, dean of the College of Design, designed the new residence.

“When people come up to the residence, they’ll have an immediate feeling of familiarity—that this is what a home feels like,” he said. “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.

“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 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.

Given the fact that the last chancellor’s home has been in use for 82 years, Malecha says he was mindful that one of the future celebrations at the residence could be NC State’s 200th anniversary.