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The Mary Ellen Jones renovation project is expected to be underway in mid-February, with construction fencing and early site mobilization efforts being the first visible signs of construction. The project is anticipated to have a 30-month duration.


The Mary Ellen Jones renovation project is expected to be underway in mid-February, with construction fencing and early site mobilization efforts being the first visible signs of construction. The project is anticipated to have a 30-month duration.

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Artist rendering of Mary Ellen Jones
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Pedestrian map for area surrounding Mary Ellen Jones during construction

The fully renovated Mary Ellen Jones building includes over 200,000 gross square feet and will provide nine floors of modern research laboratory space including replacement of building-wide mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as a fully renovated vivarium floor. The renovation of this structure, originally built in 1978, will include replacement of the relatively windowless pre-cast exterior with a new glass curtain wall system providing natural light and spectacular views. The project will also include a number of centrally scheduled conference spaces ranging from 15 to 50 seats, and will connect the building to the School of Medicine’s basic science quad with an elevated pedestrian plaza leading to the pathway outside the existing Alpine Bagel in Thurston Bowles.

The project and its construction are planned to achieve Silver LEED certification. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the performance certification program developed by the non-profit US Green Building Council.)

A neighborhood meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 28th from 3 – 4 p.m. in the Plaza level conference room at Lineberger (room 002 at the lowest floor) to describe anticipated construction activities for occupants of neighboring buildings around the site. At this meeting representatives from Choate Construction, as well as UNC and the School of Medicine, will be on hand to describe the boundaries and fencing of the site, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, anticipated phasing and duration, and to take questions.

Anyone with an interest in this project is welcome to attend this meeting. If you are unable to attend, or at any time throughout the project, please feel free to contact the School of Medicine Planning Office for this more detailed information, or with questions or concerns (919-966-2441, or rob_kark@unc.edu or jaya_ghosh@med.unc.edu).