UNCSA has announced the selection of Winston-Salem-based Frank L. Blum Construction
Company-W.C. Construction Company (Blum-W.C. Construction) as construction manager
for phase 1 of the renovation of the historic Stevens Center. The team was selected
through a qualifications-based process and approved by the UNCSA Board of Trustees
on July 20.
Blum-W.C. Construction will provide preconstruction services and construction management
for phase 1, which includes renovating the building’s envelope; addressing accessibility
repairs; and upgrades related to water intrusion, HVAC, and fire suppression systems.
The team will also work closely with the architects and engineers to provide a construction
perspective and expertise to the design process.
In April, the UNCSA Board of Trustees approved the nationally recognized firms Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, based in Charlotte, and Steinberg Hart, based in Los Angeles, as the design team.
“We’re pleased to be taking the next steps toward the much-anticipated renovation
of our Stevens Center, which is critical to our mission and the cultural and economic
development of Winston-Salem and the Piedmont Triad,” said UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole. “The Blum-W.C. Construction team has a proven track record of successfully delivering
historic preservation and state construction projects in North Carolina. In addition
to being incredibly qualified, the team has successfully delivered some of the most
iconic buildings in our community. And the team’s offices are less than three miles
from the Stevens Center.”
Among the local public projects the Blum-W.C. Construction team has worked on are
the Forsyth County Public Library, the Kaleideum Children’s Museum and Science Center,
improvements to Bowman-Gray Stadium, and the Easton Elementary School renovation and
expansion. Blum also worked on the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and First Baptist
Church on Fifth Street in Winston-Salem and the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro. The
Blum-W.C. team has completed more than 550 construction management projects totaling
more than $1.4 billion in the last 10 years.
“As construction manager, Blum-W.C. Construction will work closely with UNCSA Facilities
Management, the designers and the other project consultants as an integral part of
the project team to deliver the best long-term value for the university,” said Blum
Vice President Mark Dunnagan. “Through our history we have constructed numerous performance
and large gathering venues. This experience allows us to leverage lessons learned
regarding acoustics, seating, and many other specifications that benefit UNCSA.
“Our local presence, our experience delivering quality projects across the Triad,
and the team we have assembled uniquely position us to successfully deliver the Stevens
Center renovation project.”
W.C. Construction Company Founder and President William Cockerham said, “Blum-W.C.
Construction wants to be inclusive of the individuals that reflect the communities
in which we live and work. We have a long-standing commitment to maximizing Historically
Underutilized Business (HUB) participation in all of our projects, and we recognize
the importance UNCSA places on employing minority and women-owned businesses. We will
ensure that small, minority, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses have maximum
opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts undertaken by our team.”
The renovation
A preliminary concept master plan, developed in 2017 by Robert A.M. Stern Architects
(RAMSA) and DLR Group, in consultation with members of the Winston-Salem community
as well as faculty, staff and students, laid the groundwork for a renovation to upgrade
and enhance the patron experience and student learning outcomes provided at the Stevens
Center. UNCSA will continue to seek input from the Winston-Salem community and the
partner organizations who utilize the Stevens Center.
Blum-W.C. Construction will help determine the current cost and phasing strategy to
maximize the $29.8 million appropriation in the North Carolina state budget, approved
in November 2021, for phase 1 of the renovation of the building. UNCSA will continue
to seek a combination of public and private funding for this and future phases.
The Stevens Center will remain online and open for rehearsals and performances at
least through the 2022-23 season. Advance planning, including matching the scope of
work to the preliminary budget, will begin immediately and should be completed by
the end of September. Next, the design development phase will take 12-14 months. Construction
will follow and is expected to take 18-24 months, during which time the building is
expected to go dark. Information about alternate venues for the affected UNCSA performance
season, community programs and partner organizations during the time that the Stevens
Center is offline will be announced at a later date.
The Stevens Center
At 1,300 seats, the Stevens Center serves as the largest learning laboratory and primary
performance venue for UNCSA, an economic driver for downtown Winston-Salem, and a
cultural destination for both residents and visitors. Originally a 1929 silent movie
theater, the Carolina Theatre, this neoclassical building was renovated with a stage
and backstage that was able to accommodate Broadway-scale performances of live music,
theater, dance and opera. In 1983, it was renamed for theater producer Roger L. Stevens
and reopened with a star-studded gala featuring Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Stern, Agnes
de Mille, Gregory Peck and many others.
The Frank L. Blum Construction Company was the general contractor for the early 1980s
renovation of what is now the Stevens Center.
About Frank L. Blum Construction Company
Established in 1923, Frank L. Blum Construction Company has been a trusted building
partner to owners in North Carolina and Virginia for nearly a century. The firm has
a solid reputation for weathering the most challenging economies, partnering with
the most exacting owners, and excelling at the most complex projects. Many distinctive
and beloved buildings bear the Blum Construction imprint of fine craftsmanship on
the original structure or its subsequent renovation or restoration.
About W.C. Construction Company
W.C. Construction Company, LLC, is composed of knowledgeable professionals with more
than 40 years of combined experience within the construction workforce. They are highly
regarded for their advanced level of professionalism, integrity and innovation. A
minority-owned, HUB-certified firm, W.C. Construction is focused on providing general
contracting, construction management and design-build services in areas of new building
construction, additions, renovation and land development. The company has been in
business for 14 years.
Contact Media Relations(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)
Get the best news, performance and alumni stories from UNCSA.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)