UNCW’s amphitheater will be undergoing several renovations in the upcoming months.

Headed by SGA, the additions will include four fabric canopy sails, alternating turquoise and indigo in color, as well as lighting for the main stage and seating area.

The project is expected to be completed before students come back for the fall semester.

“The SGA leadership decided to begin the amphitheater project last year with significant enhancements to the seating and stage area,” said Jon Kapell, director of campus activities and involvement. “The original hope was to include the fabric sail structure as a cover, but this proved to be too expensive as the project moved forward.”

Funds for the project came from a fund balance that SGA had accumulated over the course of a few years.

“SGA receives a portion of student fee money, and that money is allocated throughout SGA to student organizations, such as grad school, ACE, and the Sports Club Council,” said Valerie Derrick, SGA treasurer. “Whatever money isn’t used is then put into a savings fund. We felt that this balance wasn’t a good use of student money so we formed a committee and collected student concerns and ideas to improve the campus.”

Ideas that students offered included the improvements to the amphitheater, a gazebo with electrical outlets, and improvements to the programming space in Hawk’s Nest.

“The canopy sails were one that we felt everyone wanted to see the accomplishment of,” said Derrick. “We felt that whatever project we decided on should benefit every student on campus, not just a certain organization. SGA really wanted to build something that every single student would want to have use of.”

Prior to breaking ground on the project, an estimate of the cost was put together by the facilities department.

“The way these projects work,” said Ed Shuford, director of project management, “is that somebody on campus identifies a need or desire; in this case, the SGA wanted to add the sails to the amphitheater. Facilities works up a cost estimate and provides it back to SGA. They then decide if they have the dollars to move ahead.

“This is where we are in the process,” said Shuford. “They’ve identified the need and we’ve met with the student affairs division and talked about the scope of the project with preliminary cost estimates. SGA has a way to transfer money from their account to student affairs. Student affairs will then move the money to the facilities account.”

Once the money has been moved into an account that the facilities department can utilize, the designs of both the sails and the lighting must be finalized.

While the canopy sails design has been completed, SGA is currently at work designing the lighting system. There are no plans for a sound system; groups have been able to bring sound to the area in the past.

The total project is at an estimated $110,000, with the sails costing around $70,000 and the lighting system estimated at $40,000.

Following the design finalization, a bidding process will begin as the facilities department takes the project to community contractors. After a contractor is agreed upon, building will begin.

“Any funds not used on this project will roll back into the fund balance,” said Derrick.

Because the amphitheater is located near a body of water, money was set aside for possible complications.

In case of extreme weather conditions, the facilities department will remove the sails and lighting. A storage plan has already been developed for the sails.

“I don’t believe there will be a lot of maintenance required,” said Shuford. “The sails were designed to withstand hurricane winds so I don’t anticipate many problems.”

The addition of the canopy sails is expected to improve the usability of the area for events sponsored by ACE, among others.  

In the past, ACE has used the amphitheater for a variety of events.

“We’ve used the space for events such as the Welcome Week movie shown on a blow-up screen, promotional events, Fall and Spring Show Surveying initiatives, and Teal Tuesday,” said ACE president Megan Mackie. “This semester, ACE will be hosting its annual Concert on the Commons series there on Wednesday mornings from 11:30-1:00.”

“The improvements that have been done to the amphitheater have been a huge improvement. It has created a true space for us to host events in as well as a place for students to come together. We plan on keeping most of the traditional events located in the amphitheater with a possible few decorative changes due to the sail,” said Mackie.

Opinions on the addition of the canopy sail are positive, with most claiming that they feel this addition will provide UNCW with a unique, multi-use location.

“The addition of the fabric sail covering and the lighting will complete the amphitheater project and provide a premier outdoor programming space for the campus community,” said Kapell. “We are really excited about the potential for this programming space and the enhancement it will bring as a space to showcase events and to provide a central location for the UNCW community to gather.”

“I would have to say that the sail being added to the amphitheater is going to make this a great programming space,” said Amanda Parsley, SGA secretary. “We want students to utilize the great facilities we have on campus for events and programs. With this revamped space, I hope to see student organizations utilizing the wonderful resources we have here at UNCW and sharing their programs with the student body.”

“I think that the teal will bring a sense of school spirit to UNCW,” said Parsley. “I’m not sure if there are other schools in the area that have a similar amphitheater like we do, but I think it will provide a unique space that will set us apart from other schools. We have such a beautiful campus and I think with the addition of the teal to the campus commons, it will really stand out and make the area look more complete.”