Major renovations are underway at Powell Hall and the Rumley Center on the north side of Campbell University’s main campus. The work, when complete, will mean considerable modern upgrades to the residence hall and a centralized hub for student-athletes. 

Built in 1960, Powell Hall is Campbell’s second-oldest residence hall behind nearby Jones Hall (1954), which received significant upgrades to house students in the Honors Program in 2016. The three-story building’s upgrades will include PTAC air conditioning and heater units in each room and a DOAZ (Dedicated Outdoor Air System) unit that will circulate fresh air throughout the building, according to Robbie Adams, Campbell’s capital project manager. Additionally, a new hot water generation system and circulator pump will provide “instant hot water access” for students, Adams said. 

“The front entrance of Powell now has a spacious and inviting private lobby,” Adams said in a press release. “We’re adding new acoustic ceilings throughout the building, and we are replacing all windows to bring greater aesthetics, as well as greater efficiency. We are making improvements to the access control system, we’re adding new door hardware, and we’re making WiFi enhancements. All of this, plus extensive interior improvements that include new paint and new flooring.”

Powell Hall is located directly behind the Rumley Center, which has served several purposes for Campbell since its construction in the late 1990s. When renovations are complete, the front portion of the building will become the centralized home for Campbell Athletics’ student-athlete support services. According to Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore, the vision is to create a single location where all 21 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes can access staff and resources to support their success. 

“This project is designed to improve accessibility, collaboration, efficiency and the overall student-athlete experience,” Bazemore said in a press release. “Rather than having these support units dispersed across multiple buildings, they will have a clear destination to connect with the staff who support their academic achievement, personal growth and leadership development at Campbell.”

The center will include offices for academic coordinators and support staff, study halls and tutoring spaces, individual and small-group study areas and other student success resources. The Office of Student-Athlete Development will be housed there with staff on hand to coordinate leadership development initiatives, career readiness programming, community engagement opportunities, life skills education and well-being initiatives. The building will also centralize athletics communications, media relations and public relations.

The Powell Hall renovation is made possible by a $150,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation, which is a longtime supporter of Campbell University. The effort also supports the initiatives put forth by the Strategic Plan, announced by President William M. Downs this spring. Among the objectives in the plan, Campbell has pledged to “expand and improve the infrastructure necessary to sustain enrollment growth.”