The Rizzo Executive Conference Center at UNC Chapel Hill is host to the Kenan-Flagler School’s Executive Development programs, conferences, and retreats. The Surface team faced several immediate challenges, including a deeply sloping site, densely mature forested area, and transit corridor easement. Welcoming signs now lead visitors along a lanterned wall to a boardwalk, which provides a unique pedestrian path from the canopied drop-off plaza to the building entrance. Multiple outdoor gathering spaces include a green roof terrace, dining area, amphitheater, grotto, terraced garden and an activity trail. The placement of seating benches among landscape beds and small garden areas blend into a large gathering area on the east side of the building that can be accessed along a series of pedestrian paths. In these gathering places, people can relax among nature and appreciate the lovely rural views.
