About

Wey Hall, which houses the Department of Art, was built in 1976 and has never been renovated — until now. The renovation and modernization of the building, which is underway, will provide an improved, safer and more effective learning environment for App State students. The renovation is slated for completion in May 2025.

Renovations for the project include adding fire suppression and sprinkler systems and updating the building’s plumbing, elevators, and electrical, heating/cooling and ventilation systems.

This renovation will increase the amount of space dedicated to teaching and making in Wey Hall, with some building infrastructure — such as the HVAC system, stairwells and an elevator — moving outside the building’s original footprint, to increase the amount of interior space for studios and classrooms. Many faculty members will be located in a nearby building, maximizing the available space for instruction.

Once completed, the fully renovated Wey Hall will offer modernized spaces for both teaching and engaging in art and design, including the following features:

First floor

• Dedicated studio space for advanced students in metals, sculpture and ceramics
• The Cathy P. Walling Student Art Gallery — a dedicated student art gallery
• 3D foundations studios
• Ceramics studio with a larger space and kilns moved outside to a covered kiln pad area
• Metals studio with spaces for enameling, etching/anodizing, casting and forming
• Sculpture studio with a spray booth, forge and spaces for casting
• Wood shop
• Department chair office suite

Second floor

• 2D foundations studios
• Art education studio
• Art management seminar room
• Fibers studio with spaces for weaving, dyeing, papermaking and sewing
• Printmaking studios with spaces for screenprinting, an acid/solvent room, a darkroom and press making studio
• Seminar room for fibers and printmaking
• Computer lab
• Critique space

Third floor

• Graphic design studio, seminar rooms, work room and dedicated studio for graphic design seniors
• Painting and drawing studios
• Studio for studio art seniors
• Synergy print and fabrication Lab 
• Critique space

Faculty and staff displaced by the renovation have been provided temporary office space in East Hall. Classes and labs for the 2024–25 academic year are being accommodated in various academic buildings across the Boone campus during the renovation. Ceramics, Printmaking, and Foundations II Woodshop classes for fall 2024 are being held in the second-level Edwin Duncan Hall Octagon, which was prepared for occupancy in August 2024. Visit the Department of Art’s news page for specific updates related to classes and facility locations for the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.

This artist's rendering shows a proposed student art gallery for the renovated Wey Hall, which will be named the Cathy P. Walling Student Art Gallery — in honor of the late Cathy P. Walling, a Class of 1978 App State graduate who was a lifelong painter and clay artist. This image does not reflect the finalized renovation design. Graphic courtesy of LS3P Associates

A conceptual rendering of the planned renovations for App State’s Wey Hall. This image does not reflect the finalized renovation design. Graphic courtesy of LS3P Associates

An artist’s rendering of what App State’s Wey Hall might look like once the building’s renovations are complete. This image does not reflect the finalized renovation design. Graphic courtesy of LS3P Associates

An artist’s rendering of the student art gallery that is planned as part of Wey Hall’s renovation. The space will be named the Cathy P. Walling Student Art Gallery, in honor of the late Cathy P. Walling — a Class of 1978 App State graduate who was a lifelong painter and clay artist. This image does not reflect the finalized renovation design. Graphic courtesy of LS3P Associates

Status

Preparation work for the Wey Hall renovation began in January 2023 and construction continues on schedule. The project, which is nearly 70% complete as of September 2024, is slated for completion in May 2025.

Installation of the curtain wall framing for the building’s front tower is underway, and the facility’s exterior exhaust ducts are being removed — some will be replaced with new ducts and others will be repainted. The metal roof shed for the temporary kiln pad has been installed, and roofing work for the building is about 65% complete, as of September 2024. First-floor concrete slab cutting continues, which will make way for the installation of new underslab waste lines.

For the programming phase, completed in early May 2022, LS3P developed schematic designs, or architectural renderings, for the project. LS3P created the designs after meeting with and interviewing various project stakeholders, including members of the Department of Art’s academic program areas, to determine their specific needs and incorporate those into the designs. App State selected Muter Construction LLC, of Zebulon, North Carolina, as the Construction Manager at Risk for the project.

Originally, the university planned to renovate the building’s third floor only. In May 2018, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors authorized the university to spend up to $200,000 for advance planning for this third-floor renovation. During the course of planning, it became apparent that a comprehensive, full-building modernization would be required.

Construction progress for the renovation of App State's Wey Hall is shown in this front view of the facility, taken Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

Construction progress for the renovation of App State's Wey Hall, as of Aug. 16, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction continues on schedule for the renovation of App State's Wey Hall, as shown in this photo taken July 15, 2024. Workers are shown installing metal framing for the building's new font tower. Photo by Chase Reynolds

A close-up of the construction progress on the new front tower of App State's Wey Hall. This photo was taken July 15, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on the Wey Hall renovation, as of June 19, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This image, taken June 19, 2024, shows the construction work taking place at the front entrance of App State's Wey Hall. The building's renovation is slated to be completed in 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This photo, taken May 16, 2024, shows the construction progress for the renovation of Wey Hall at App State's Boone campus. Construction continues on schedule and is slated for completion in summer 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Construction progress for the renovation of App State's Wey Hall, as of April 24, 2024. This photo offers a view of the building's front side, where staircase construction is underway. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Construction for the renovation of App State's Wey Hall continues on schedule, as shown in this aerial image, taken March 12, 2024. The Wey Hall renovation project is scheduled for completion in summer 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress for the Wey Hall renovation at App State, as of Feb. 20, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This aerial photo shows the construction progress on Wey Hall's renovation, as of Jan. 30, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on the Wey Hall renovation project at App State, as of Nov. 30, 2023. The first phase of the project is slated for completion in December 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This photo of App State's Wey Hall, taken Oct. 6, 2023, shows progress on the demolition work for the building’s front lobby and exterior stairs. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Wey Hall, pictured March 22, 2022. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Obsolete control panels are among Wey Hall’s deficiencies. Photo submitted

Severely deteriorated HVAC systems are among Wey Hall’s deficiencies. Photo submitted

Hallways overloaded with storage and lockers are among Wey Hall’s deficiencies. Photo submitted

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How is it funded?

Renovation and modernization of the entire building is estimated to cost $24.1 million and will include aesthetic improvements in addition to addressing all major building systems. In March 2019, the Board of Governors authorized App State to spend up to $2 million to fund the creation of preliminary building designs, a process known as advance planning. LS3P was selected as the designer.

In the FY 2021–22 biennial budget bill signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on Nov. 18, 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $15 million in renovation support for Wey Hall — this includes $10 million for renovating facility systems and $5 million for making repairs to the building’s roof and exterior.

App State has received an additional $4 million in state-allocated funding for the project; this inflationary adjustment is part of the FY 2023–24 biennial budget bill. In December 2023, App State’s Board of Trustees authorized an additional $3.1 million in carry forward funds to support the project.

The university has received a $300,000 commitment from Luke Walling, entrepreneur and founder of Temprano Techvestors in Newton, for Wey Hall’s renovation — the first major private donation made in support of this project. The gift will provide funding for upgrades to labs and studio spaces in Wey Hall, and will also honor the memory of Walling’s mother, Cathy P. Walling ’78, through the establishment of the Cathy P. Walling Student Art Gallery — the first dedicated student exhibition space in the art program’s history.

Who will benefit?

Wey Hall houses the Department of Art, which offers more than 100 course sections to approximately 1,400 students. The building’s classrooms also are used by University College for General Education and First Year Seminar Courses.

How does it support App State strategic priorities?

The renovation of Wey Hall aligns with and supports with the following priorities of App State’s strategic plan:

• Providing Exceptional Educational Experiences — the renovation and comprehensive modernization of Wey Hall will provide a learning environment that fosters students’ academic success.
• Investing in Faculty and Staff Excellence — providing modern, state-of-the-art facilities in which to teach and pursue scholarly activities and creative endeavors is fundamental to recruiting and retaining talented faculty and staff at App State.

How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?

Providing the best environment for teaching and learning, particularly for first-year students, can impact recruitment and retention.