While the process for the refurbishment of Chancellor’s Walk began about a year ago, UNCW workers officially broke ground on May 12, 2008.

“It’s been the chancellor’s vision for a long time to make it [Chancellor’s Walk] more of a formal walkway and venue for students,” said Dave Girardot, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities.

The walkway will be torn up from the pond in front of the clock tower to Reynolds Drive in order to fix drainage problems, including flooding, and increase the aesthetic features of the campus.

“Our main goals are to broaden the sidewalk, correct the drainage deficiency and create a canopy of trees over the walkway,” Girardot said.

The sidewalks are to be concrete with a brick edge and increase four feet in width, totaling 12 feet. Textured concrete will replace the grass in the middle of the walk and be surrounded by smooth, skateboarder-friendly, concrete.

A berm or sloped embankment will be used in order to correct the flooding problem. Water will flow off the concrete mound of the walk and into storm drains alongside the path.

Girardot added, “The center will be slightly higher than the edges.”

Live Oaks will be planted on both sides of the walk, creating a canopy over the path to shade walkers. The main problem for the staff is finding a company that can sell 80 trees that are the same height.

While it will take 20 to 25 years for the tree canopies to spread, they will last for more 300 years.

“We’re really trying to plan for future generations,” said university architect James Ross.

Planting of the trees will begin in late November or December.

“We really hope to be able to finish the whole project this year,” Girardot said.

The walkway will end opposite Reynolds Drive in a plaza before the pond in front of the clock tower. This area will include new metal benches and more space for students to congregate.

Paving, including landscaping, in front of Dobo, Cameron Hall, and the Social and Behavioral Science building will be renovated.

“We want to use more appropriate shrubbery to enhance the looks of the buildings,” Girardot said.

James Ross added, “We want more green grass and azaleas in front of the buildings that will be much more low maintenance.”

The grass will be drought resistant and hopefully green year-round through the winter.

The circular garden area in front of the Social and Behavioral Science building will be removed and replaced with an emblem or decal of a UNCW Seahawk.

The arrangement outside of Dobo will be replaced with a garden of annual flowers.

Bike racks will be moved to the sides of entrances of the buildings and metal benches and more trash containers will be located near the entry of each.

“We want to provide more sitting areas, gathering spaces and a generally much nicer venue,” Girardot said.

Double LED light fixtures will replace old structures, producing a higher quality, whiter light versus the yellow one that is currently emitted.

“Our end goal is to refurbish up to Wagoner Hall,” Girardot said.

For now, though, the renovating will only extend to Reynolds Drive until the Nursing and Teaching Laboratory Buildings are completed.

“If everything goes right, we will finish Sept. 30, but wet weather could add a month,” Girardot said.

During construction, one side of the current walkway will be worked on at a time, allowing students to pass on the opposite.

Officials housed meetings in various locations around campus including Wagoner Hall in order to collect student opinion. 201 UNCW community members responded with encouragement.

“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback,” Girardot said about the entire project.