Annual Fund
Opening Doors
Do you remember the doors in this picture? Find the answers below as well as historical trivia about these buildings, many of which were constructed or renovated thanks to the gifts of alumni and friends like you.
Graham Memorial
Located in McCorkle Place Quad adjacent to Franklin Street, Graham Memorial was originally constructed with private funds in 1931 as a student union. The building was named for former UNC-Chapel Hill president, Edward Kidder Graham, who passed away during the worldwide influenza pandemic in 1918. Graham Memorial renovations were completed in 2000 and the building now houses the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence which supports undergraduate research opportunities, honors study-abroad programs and teleconferencing facilities.
Coker Arboretum
In 1903, Dr. William Chambers Coker, Carolina's first professor of botany, began developing the arboretum as an outdoor university classroom to be used for the study of trees, vines and shrubs native to North Carolina. Coker Arboretum is located next to the Morehead Planetarium and extends down to Davie Hall on Cameron Avenue. The North Carolina Botanical Garden currently manages the arboretum. In 1998, Coker Arboretum's arbor was rebuilt with private gifts from the Class of 1997. The gift also included a stone gathering circle and plaques commemorating the loss of students who passed away in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity fire that occurred on the eve of graduation in 1996.
Kenan Hall
Across the road from Coker Arboretum, you will find Kenan Residence Hall sitting between Alderman and McIver Halls. This building was completed in 1939 and named for Mary Lily Kenan Flagler. The Kenan ties to Carolina began as early as 1790 with James Kenan, a member of the North Carolina General Assembly as well as the University's first Board of Trustees. Gifts from the Kenan family's generosity have not only funded construction projects, but also professorships, library collections, performing arts and more at Carolina.
Kenan Hall
Kenan Hall's renovations were so beautiful that we had to give you an indoor view as well. This North campus residence hall currently houses 120 students and contains study rooms, laundry facilities, student lounges and the Kenan Community Office which serves as the main office for the five dormitories in the area. Kenan Hall is an all-female dorm.
Carr Building
The Carr Building is located on East Cameron Avenue across the street from New East and adjacent to Playmaker's Theater. It was named after Julian Shakespeare Carr, class of 1866 and President of the General Alumni Association from 1912-1916. Carr was constructed at the turn of the 20th century as a dormitory before being converted to offices for several departments over the years including the departments of housing and residential education and study abroad. Currently, Carr is the home to the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.
Y.M.C.A. Building (a.k.a. Campus Y)
In 1900, UNC-Chapel Hill President Venable persuaded the state legislature to increase funding to the University for an expansion of 16 new buildings on campus. The Y.M.C.A. building was completed as part of this expansion in 1907 in order to meet the needs of student organizations on campus. The building formerly housed the [Daily] Tar Heel newspaper, Yackety-Yack yearbook office and the Book Exchange campus book and supply store. The building is now home to the Campus Y, the largest student organization on campus. The Y.M.C.A. building was almost torn down due to its age, but thanks to gifts from alumni and friends of the University, it underwent a $1 million renovation in 2005 and was just reopened in March of 2007. It is located in Polk Place Quad next to the South Building.
New West
New West was originally built as a dormitory at the dawn of the Civil War in 1861 with its twin New East to flank the Old West and Old East buildings that face the Old Well. The building was designed by William Percival, a well-known architect of the time who fashioned it in the Italianate architectural style which was a unique style departure from other buildings on campus. New West was originally painted in a pinkish tint, but as part of its renovation in 2006, it was painted a creamy tan. Previously home to the departments of pharmacy, psychology and computer science, New West now houses the departments of Asian studies and statistics.
