This site of the former Broyhill Inn and Conference Center will house App State’s Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research, as part of the new Innovation District. Click on the image for a full view. Photo by Marie Freeman
The Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research is one of several major projects being planned at Appalachian State University to enhance the App State Experience.
The project supports the strategic plan of App State and the university’s goals and metrics associated with the University of North Carolina System’s strategic plan. It will benefit students, academics and the community.
About
This will be the first building of the Innovation District, which will be located at the site of the former Broyhill Inn and Conference Center on Bodenheimer Drive. It will be a vital link between the campus and the regional community through education, research and outreach.
The conservatory and nearby Nature Preserve Trailhead will advance the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachian region, allowing the App State Community and visitors to:
- understand the natural history and economic importance of our region’s biodiversity;
- gain a heightened appreciation of the research and creative endeavors being conducted at App State.
The conservatory will build on existing opportunities available through the Department of Biology’s teaching and research facilities.
This video provides an aerial view of App State’s Innovation District — the future home of the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research. The district will be located at the site of the former Broyhill Inn and Conference Center on Bodenheimer Drive.
Status
The university hired architectural engineering firm Clark Nexsen to conduct a feasibility study for the conservatory. Clark Nexsen presented its report Jan. 30, 2019, after weeks of meeting with a variety of stakeholders to determine the best mix of gardens, conservatory, labs and meeting space. The report was reviewed by university leaders, and App State is in the process of securing a designer for the project.
App State held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first development phase of the Innovation District, which includes the conservatory, on March 25, 2022.
This conceptual rendering of App State’s Innovation District shows options for the project, including the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research, housing for faculty and staff, and shared parking. Graphic courtesy of Brailsford & Dunlavey
This schematic reflects initial ideas shared by Department of Biology faculty on how the conservatory could be arranged at the site of the former Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.
How is it funded?
Expenses for the conservatory feasibility study completed by Clark Nexsen were paid with state funds through App State’s Division of Academic Affairs.
Funding allocated to App State by the North Carolina General Assembly as part of the FY 2021–22 biennial budget bill, signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on Nov. 18, 2021, allows the university to begin work on the conservatory. The budget includes $79 million for capital projects — including $54 million in non-recurring funds to begin work on the Innovation District — and $43.15 million for one-time repair and renovation project support.
Who will benefit?
Students in App State’s College of Arts and Sciences and their faculty mentors will use the conservatory’s state-of-the art research space for basic and applied research. Visitors, including K-12 students and community members, will benefit from the scientific exhibits and demonstrations informed by the research conducted at the facility.
How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?
App State can produce more graduates in the critical workforce areas for North Carolina — identified in the UNC System’s strategic plan as STEM, K-12 education, health sciences, and emerging workforce areas — who are capable of addressing the needs of the world.
Appalachian's Innovation District Video Transcript
Voiceover: In 1899, the misty ridges of Northwestern North Carolina became home to a simple, yet powerful vision: to transform lives and the region through the empowerment of education. Nearly 125 years later, students still feel the pull of this unique place, and Appalachian State University remains grounded in the vision of our founders, providing rural access to a sterling education and serving the region.
As the University of North Carolina System continues to expand signature educational opportunities in Western North Carolina, Appalachian’s contribution to this effort is an Innovation District, which will enhance curriculum while delivering a profound impact on the region’s economic development.
Located at the edge of a 65-acre nature preserve, the Innovation District will provide a vital link between the university and the regional community through education, research and outreach.
As the Innovation District develops, it will provide a vital and dynamic space where students and faculty will work together with industry partners in specialized areas that capitalize on App State’s strengths and regional identity. Collaborations across colleges and disciplines will prepare students for career progression in a dynamic work environment.
Nearly 125 years after B.B., D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty set forth on their ambitious plan, App State’s pioneering vision is bolder than ever.
Major current projects:
An aerial view of areas receiving millennial campus designation at Appalachian State University. Video by Marie Freeman