Mary Ellen Jones Research Building Renovation

The Mary Ellen Jones Research Building, originally completed in 1978, underwent a comprehensive renovation to modernize its facilities for the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. Lord Aeck Sargent conducted a Feasibility Study to guide the renovation process, resulting in the transformation of outdated laboratories into open, flexible spaces conducive to collaborative and interdisciplinary research. Exterior improvements involved recladding a significant portion of the building with a high-performance curtainwall system, enhancing both the working environment and interior daylighting. The renovated facility now houses general biomedical research areas, specialized spaces for initiatives like the UNC Food Allergy Institute and Computational Medicine, Neuroscience Center Research Labs, and dedicated floors for Biomedical Engineering, including undergraduate design labs. Additionally, a centralized meeting and collaboration zone fosters interaction among researchers and staff.