$85M Civil War History Museum Breaks Ground in Fayetteville, NC
Contractors expect to complete project by spring 2028
The North Carolina History Center on Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction will house 16,000 sq ft of exhibition space, classrooms, a library, a 2,000-sq-ft community meeting room and other amenities.
Balfour Beatty and Varnedoe Construction recently broke ground on the final phase of The North Carolina Center on Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction in Fayetteville, N.C. The $85-million, 60,000-sq-ft facility is scheduled to complete in spring 2028.
Set in Fayetteville’s Arsenal Park, the center be an educational and cultural institution, telling the stories of all North Carolinians before, during and after the Civil War. The Center will leverage resources from the University of North Carolina System, the Smithsonian Institution and community historians to present a comprehensive and inclusive narrative of the Civil War and its legacy.
The large-scale exhibit galleries and operational spaces were designed by Vines Architecture and Eisterhold Associates. Adam Brakenbury, managing principal at Vines Architecture, says that, in addition to its cultural exhibits, the facility will serve as a community center. It will house 16,000 sq ft of exhibition space, a rotating exhibit gallery, classrooms, a library, a 2,000-sq-ft community meeting room, and space for events, a cafe and gift shop.
“The design of the building provides transparency, natural light, warm materials and a large front porch to create a friendly and inclusive environment,” he says.
Brakenbury says he expects erection of the steel frame to start in the spring.
The project, in planning for more than 15 years, is funded by the State of North Carolina, City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and private donors. The multi-phase development began with the VanStory History Village and an outdoor educational pavilion. When complete, the center will be operated by the state Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources.
“The center is a meaningful addition to our public assembly portfolio in the Carolinas,” Jeff Sandeen, president of Balfour Beatty's Carolinas, said in a press release. “It’s a privilege to contribute to a project that will educate and inspire future generations.”
