Design and Construction Report staff writer
Balfour Beatty, in partnership with Varnedoe Construction, has broken ground on the final phase of the North Carolina History Center on Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction, a $85 million project set to transform Arsenal Park into a major cultural and educational destination.
The 60,000-square-foot facility will feature large-scale exhibit galleries, classrooms, an auditorium and operational spaces designed by Vines Architecture and Eisterhold Associates. When complete in spring 2028, the center will present a comprehensive narrative of the Civil War and its legacy, drawing on resources from the UNC System, the Smithsonian Institution and local historians.
Funding for the project comes from the State of North Carolina, the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and private donors.
“The enter is a meaningful addition to our public assembly portfolio in the Carolinas,” said Jeff Sandeen, president of Balfour Beatty in the Carolinas. “It’s a privilege to contribute to a project that will educate and inspire future generations.”
The new facility is the culmination of a multi-phase development that began with the VanStory History Village and an outdoor educational pavilion. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will operate the center when it opens.
For more information about the center, visit nccivilwarcenter.org.
