The University of North Carolina at Pembroke has been awarded the State Building Commission Merit Award for Excellence in Project Implementation for its innovative Village Apartments demolition project, a first-of-its-kind initiative in North Carolina that combined cost savings, public safety training and strategic campus development.

The award, presented during the 45th annual State Construction Conference, recognizes outstanding achievement in project design, construction and overall implementation across the state.

Kevin Witmore, senior project manager, and Douglas Hall, interim architect, accepted the award at a luncheon at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh.

“This project was unique, and to our knowledge, it had never been done before on a state university campus in North Carolina,” said Victor Deese, assistant vice chancellor for Facilities, in a press release. “It highlights the level of collaboration between the university, local and state agencies, community partners and emergency responders.”

Between Dec. 21, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2025, UNCP conducted a series of controlled burns on six vacant Village Apartments buildings. Rather than pursuing traditional demolition, the university reimagined the process, transforming it into a large-scale, hands-on training opportunity for 366 firefighters and first responders from across the region.

The project also prepared the site for the future construction of a $96.8 million health sciences building, which will house the state’s first public Doctor of Optometry program. 

The success of the project was rooted in extensive coordination among multiple partners, including Robeson Community College, regional fire departments, the State Bureau of Investigation, local governments and private contractors.

“Our learning curve was getting the buildings ready for the burns,” Deese said in a press release. “We had to remove hazardous materials, furniture and mechanical systems before we could even consider a controlled burn. That required coordination and trust across many different entities.”

Michael Bullard, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said the project required careful navigation of regulatory requirements.

“We had to work closely with state regulators and explain the benefits — both in terms of firefighter training and cost savings,” Bullard said in a press release. “This wasn’t something they could immediately approve. We had to demonstrate the value of doing it this way.”

Witmore emphasized the level of planning involved.

“Before we even started, we had to secure the buildings, remove materials and bring in a designer to assess feasibility and cost,” Witmore said in a press release. “There were so many moving parts. Then you layer in the live-burn training — it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

In addition to its innovative approach, the project delivered significant financial benefits, resulting in more than $1 million in cost savings. At the same time, it provided an invaluable training opportunity for first responders.

“This was the largest, most comprehensive live-fire training many of these firefighters had ever experienced,” Bullard added in a press release. “It also allowed law enforcement and emergency personnel — including the SBI and local agencies — to train in realistic conditions.”

The university is already documenting the process to serve as a model for other institutions.