Over the last decade, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has made a concerted effort to enhance the overall campus atmosphere and generate a strong, community-oriented living experience. This effort supports key university goals including recruitment and retention in addition to providing students with on-campus living experiences that support their academic success. To create real communities, the university has designed their residence halls as components of three major villages: North Village, South Village, and East Village.
Geared toward upperclassmen, North Village includes sister residence halls Belk and Miltimore, both designed by Clark Nexsen with a mix of apartment and suite style residences. Belk encourages interaction and socialization among students with common areas including group kitchens, multipurpose spaces, study rooms, and lounge rooms. Miltimore offers a range of apartments and suite styles to give students ample choice in living preference, with common areas including kitchens and lounges laid out at the corners of the building and emphasized by large windows. Designed to facilitate indoor-outdoor access, Belk and Miltimore create a dramatic courtyard with multiple seating areas and green space, providing a welcoming space for social activities. In close proximity to the Student Union, residents of North Village can easily reach multiple dining options, recreation spaces, and a movie theater via a redesigned pathway to encourage connectivity with the core of campus.
Both residence halls have received accolades, with Miltimore Hall recognized by American School & University as an Outstanding Design in their 2011 Architectural Portfolio and Belk Hall being the first state-owned Green Globes certified project in North Carolina.