Civic Building named Drakeford Library Complex by Orange County and Town of Carrboro

The new public building under construction at 203 S. Greensboro St. will be named the Drakeford Library Complex in honor of former Carrboro Mayor Robert Drakeford. 

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted in favor of the new name on Thursday, Nov. 7 while the Carrboro Town Council approved the new building name on Tuesday, Oct. 15. 

The $42 million development is the future home of the Orange County Southern Branch Library. The facility also provides a permanent home for the Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department; Orange County Skills Development Center; WCOM Radio; and performance/multipurpose uses. 

The elected bodies supported the recommendation of a Naming Committee comprised of members from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Carrboro Town Council, and Friends of the Library. The committee met in the spring of 2024 to develop a community engagement process to name the public building, which will be jointly operated by the Town of Carrboro and Orange County. A grand opening of the public complex is set for February 2025 on a date to be broadly announced throughout the community. 

The committee members from Town of Carrboro are Council Member Catherine Fray and Council Member Eliazar Posada. The Orange County committee members are Commissioner Sally Greene and Commissioner Anna Richards. Also on the committee were two members from the Friends of the Library, Alexandra Brown and Nerys Levy. 

The committee reviewed results from a communitywide survey that received more than 200 responses and subsequently took a formal vote on Sept. 24, 2024, to recommend that the building be named the Drakeford Library Complex.

Robert “Bob” Drakeford made history as Carrboro’s first Black mayor, elected in 1977 and serving until 1983. The resolution presented to the Council includes the following information: 

• Dr. Drakeford served as alderman from 1975 to 1977 before being elected as mayor in 1977. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s city and regional planning program, he was an advocate for public transit and cycling, and he developed valuable collaborations with other progressive Black mayors in the South during his tenure.
• Dr. Drakeford held public office when the Council (then Board of Aldermen) hired Richard Knight as the town’s first Black town manager, employed from 1976-1980.  And he served as mayor during the hiring of the Town’s first professional planner, who was Black. This decision helped set high standards that eventually made Carrboro more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. He also established a loan program to encourage business entrepreneurs and created the Carrboro Community Park, later renamed the Hank Anderson Community Park. The biggest issue during his tenure was planning the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Bus System. 
• Dr. Drakeford was a veteran who proudly served our country in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. Following his time in service, he received a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University, and a master’s degree at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, going on to further his education by receiving his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University North Carolina at Greensboro. He was a political science professor, serving with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 4-H Development at Auburn University.
• Dr. Drakeford was born on April 25, 1945 in New York City, son of the late Robert and Elizabeth McLeod Drakeford, and died on May 16, 2022 (buried at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery).

Work performed in last 30 days:

• Installation of pavers at terraces 
• Installation of coping on roof parapets
• Signage installed in parking deck
• Installation of restroom fixtures
• Carpet installed on all levels
• Ceiling tiles, ceiling baffles, and cabinetry nearly complete
• Wall finishes and final painting in process

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

• Continuation of sidewalk, curb and gutters
• Installation of landscape lighting and irrigation
• Installation of exterior benches
• Install handrail and plant material for terraces
• Audio visual systems will begin installation
• Fire alarm system to be completed and tested

Utility work, site work, and traffic impacts: 

Installation of sidewalks, curbs and gutters around the site is in progress and will continue.  Periodic road closures of East Braxton Foushee, Maple Avenue Extension, and Roberson Street will continue as needed to accommodate. Road closures will occur during the day and reopen each evening.

Completion of project:

We look forward to welcoming everyone at the new public center in Carrboro that will be both a library and civic building. After construction is completed, it will take some time for services to move in and become operational. The grand opening date will be announced broadly when it is confirmed. This will be set in coordination between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County, following the completion of construction, and the move-in of furniture and library materials.

Work performed in last 30 days:

• Parking deck stairs and bollard installation continues
• Installation of restroom fixtures and partitions has begun
•  Door hardware installation continues
• HVAC system testing and balancing has begun
• Fire alarm and data cable installation continues throughout the building 

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

• Conduit for decorative light poles will be installed
• Curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be installed
• Concrete seat walls and benches will be installed
• Interior finish work will continue, including installing decorative wall panels, ceiling baffles, and cabinetry
•  Installation of restroom fixtures and partitions will continue
• Main fiber and data connections to building will be installed

Work performed in last 30 days:

• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, sprinklers, fire alarm, and data cable installation continues throughout the building 
•  Installation of lighting fixtures and exit lights is nearly complete
• Elevator installation is nearly complete
• Bioretention cells, designed to capture, treat, and reduce peak stormwater runoff, have been installed and tied into stormwater drainage system
• Waterproofing of terraces and parking deck is nearly complete

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

• Wall finishes and painting will continue
• Other finish work will begin, including installing ceiling tiles, ceiling baffles, and cabinetry
• Installation of pavers and decorative stone at terraces
• Installation of restroom fixtures and partitions
•  Installation of coping on roof parapets

Work performed in last 30 days:
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work continues throughout the building. Ethernet/data cable is being installed on the west side. Lighting fixtures are being installed on the west side and doors are being installed throughout. Elevators have just been delivered. Fire sprinkler pipes are being installed in the parking deck. 

Work upcoming in next 30 days:
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinklers will continue throughout. Wall finishes, painting, and ceiling installation will continue. Elevators will be installed. Bioretention cells, designed to capture, treat, and reduce peak stormwater runoff, will be installed and tied into stormwater drainage system. Waterproofing will be installed on parking deck and terraces. 

Utility work and traffic impacts: 
 Though some of the utility work has completed, there continues to be a great deal of site work and utility work still happening.  AT&T and Google Fiber have finished. They were impacting several streets around the building.  Dominion Energy has finished. They were primarily impacting East Braxton Foushee.  OWASA work is still ongoing at several spots along East Braxton Foushee.  And stormwater and drainage work is happening all around the building.  OWASA work should be finishing on East Braxton Foushee in the next couple of weeks.  The stormwater work around the site will take several weeks, but most of that will be happening within the construction fence and not in the street.  

Completion of project:
We look forward to welcoming everyone at the new public center in Carrboro that will be both a library and civic building. After construction is completed in late summer, it will take some time for services to move in and become operational. The grand opening date will be announced broadly when it is confirmed. This will be set in coordination between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County, following the completion of construction, and the move-in of furniture and library materials.

Work performed in last 30 days:
Exterior metal panels are being installed on the west side of the building. Drywall installation is finishing on the east side and interior painting is starting on the west. Ceiling grid and light fixtures are being installed. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler work is continuing. Spray foam insulation has completed.

Work upcoming in next 30 days:
Interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler installation will continue throughout. Waterproofing and insulation will be installed at the first floor of the parking deck. Parking deck stairs and bollards will be installed. Cabinets to be delivered and installed in west side. Permanent power will be activated. 

Traffic impacts due to gas line relocation: 
Dominion Energy will be relocating an existing gas line that runs parallel to the south side of the 203 site along E. Braxton Foushee Street. This work will happen in June and take a few weeks to complete. During work there will be temporary street closures of E. Braxton Foushee Street between Maple Avenue and S. Greensboro Street.  A more detailed schedule and traffic control plan will be shared as soon as possible.  

Naming of the building: 
The Joint Orange County -Town of Carrboro Naming Committee is looking for public input as it considers a name for the civic building under construction. 

Please take the survey at: 

• English - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSLXHQ7 ;
• Spanish -  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TGHYLTH
• More information - https://www.carrboronc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2733 

Work performed in last 30 days:

Exterior brick is almost complete and has been washed on west side.  Roofing work is still being finished in a few small areas. Drywall installation continues and primer paint is beginning to be applied.  The interior stairs treads have been installed.  Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler work is continuing.  

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

Interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler installation will continue throughout. Interior walls, insulation and drywall will continue east side.  Wear surface slabs will be poured in the parking deck.  Spray foam insulation will be installed on east side. Tile and light fixtures will begin to be installed.

We are currently expecting construction to wrap up late summer. An opening date has not yet been determined. This will be set in coordination between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County, following the completion of construction, and the move-in of furniture and library supplies. 

Traffic impacts due to AT&T conduit installation:

AT&T will be installing new conduit under Roberson Street and extending across South Greensboro Street. This work will begin April 15 and take about a month to complete. During this work there will be daily, temporary street closures of Roberson Street between Maple Avenue and South Greensboro Street.  There will also be temporary lane closures of South Greensboro Street.  A more detailed traffic plan will be released from the contractor and shared with this group soon. 

Construction continues to progress on The 203 S. Greensboro Street Project in Carrboro.

Work performed in last 60 days:

Exterior brick is complete on the west side and has begun on the east side.  Roofing work is nearly complete.  Exterior glass has been installed with the exception of a few sections which will remain open to allow access of materials into the building.  The interior walls have been framed and insulated on the west side and installation and finishing of drywall is in process.  The interior stairs have been installed and interior parking deck walls are being built.  Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler work has all begun.  

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

Exterior brick work will continue along sections of the parking deck.  Interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler installation will continue throughout. Interior walls, insulation and drywall will continue on east side.  Wear surface slabs will be poured in the parking deck.  Roofing will be finished. 

We are currently expecting construction to wrap up late summer. An opening date has not yet been determined. This will be set in coordination between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County, following the completion of construction, and the move-in of furniture and library supplies. 

Traffic impacts during the Braxton Foushee Street Dedication 

A street dedication ceremony for the renaming of Carr Street to Braxton Foushee Street is scheduled at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 27. The ceremony will take place outside the Arete Studio at 203 E. Carr Street. The event is anticipated to cause some intermittent traffic delays along Carr Street from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Learn more about the street dedication.

The tower crane will be removed at the construction site of The 203 Project, requiring temporary closure of Roberson Street from west of Maple Avenue to S. Greensboro Street. 

Traffic impacts are as follows: 

• Wednesday, Jan. 17 – Roberson Street closed 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• Thursday, Jan. 18 – Roberson Street closed 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Friday, Jan. 19 – Roberson Street closed 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

The 130-foot tower crane has been a fixture in the downtown Carrboro landscape since December 2022. Its removal is a key moment in project construction, signaling that the main structure is fully installed, and the project has entered into its final phase towards completion. It’s an exciting project milestone! 

We thank you in advance for your patience with this traffic disruption as the project progresses.

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E. Carr Street will be closed between S. Greensboro Street and Maple Avenue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays starting on Wednesday, Jan. 10, and lasting for about three weeks.

The temporary closure will accommodate utility and drainage work associated with construction of the new library and civic building. 

There will be flaggers at each end of Maple Avenue to guide alternating one-way traffic around the work zone. E. Carr Street will be reopened to traffic during non-work hours. 

All travelers are urged to slow down, be alert, and drive with caution through the area.

Information is forthcoming!

Information is forthcoming!

An early morning concrete pour is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 31 at the 203 Project, the new library and civic building under construction on S. Greensboro Street in Carrboro. 

Work will begin at 4 a.m. and is scheduled to be finished by 11 a.m. All travelers are urged to slow down, be alert, and drive with caution as the work may impact traffic on Roberson Street between Maple Avenue and S. Greensboro Street.

The next concrete pour ( 8 of 9 for the parking deck) is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14.

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An early morning concrete pour is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17.  This will be pour number 6 of 9 for the parking deck structure.   The pour will take place from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. Roberson Street will be closed to through-traffic between Maple Ave Extension and S. Greensboro Street.  The next concrete pour (7 of 9) is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 31.

AT&T will continue working on Greensboro Street this week.

Crews remain busy with interior construction.  The first-floor library has been roughed-in and crews are working on completing the rough-in on the second and third floors.  The roof is nearly finished and the brick will start to go up soon.  

The project is on track to finish next summer.  

Construction continues on the parking deck of The 203 Project with an early morning concrete pour tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19.   

This is one of six large pours left for the second level of the parking deck. Roberson Street is expected to be temporarily closed to through-traffic between Maple Avenue Extension and S. Greensboro Street during the hours of 4 and 10 a.m. to accommodate the concrete pumping equipment.  

Crews remain busy with interior construction.  Purple sheathing with a green air barrier is being installed on the exterior of the building which will soon be covered with brick veneer.  

We are coming up on about a year of active construction.  The project is on track to finish next summer.  

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An early morning concrete pour is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8 at the 203 Project, the new library and civic building under construction on S. Greensboro Street in Carrboro. 

Work will begin at 4 a.m. and is scheduled to be finished by 10 a.m. All travelers are urged to slow down, be alert, and drive with caution as the work may impact traffic on Roberson Street between Maple Avenue and S. Greensboro Street.

 A fairly large concrete pour is anticipated on Monday, Aug. 14, beginning around 9 a.m.  at the construction site of The 203 Project. This will be approximately 10 concrete trucks making coordinated deliveries over about two hours.  

Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 14, will be busy with material deliveries to the site. Temporary delays on Greensboro and Roberson streets can be expected while spotters get trucks backed into the site.

There is currently a lot of activity on site.  The parking deck continues to be built with multiple concrete pours taking place over the coming weeks.  Interior construction is underway in the building with metal wall studs being installed for the interior and exterior walls.  Mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades are all mobilized and working on site.  Brick will start to be delivered soon, and masons will begin installing the brick veneer.

AT&T is nearly complete with utility work on Greensboro and Carr streets.  A relocation project on Roberson Street is expecting to get underway later this fall. More details will be provided.

Construction remains on track to be finished next summer.

An early morning concrete pour is scheduled for next week.  We will provide an update when the date of the concrete pour is confirmed. This should be smaller than the last pour. Please expect crews to begin work at 4 a.m. and be finished around 9 a.m.  Concrete deliveries may utilize the northeast corner gate to access the site for this and future parking deck pours.  We do not expect any traffic impacts on Maple and Roberson apart from trucks entering and exiting the site. 

AT&T has started working around the site to relocate communication lines.  During this process, they are closing the northbound lane on S. Greensboro St. as needed.  Please expect intermittent delays on S. Greensboro St. while flaggers control traffic.

In other news, the temporary shoring and scaffolding on the building side are expected to be removed in the coming days, opening up the space and allowing for interior construction to begin in full. Construction remains on track to finish next summer.

Roof is coming this month! 

Crews continue to form and pour concrete for the 203 Project structure.  

The support columns for the roof have been constructed, and the roof slab pour is tentatively scheduled for June 20.   This will be the final concrete pour on the west side of the site.  Once the roof is up, the temporary shoring on the first and second floors can be removed, and framing for the windows and walls will begin.   

Parking deck construction is ongoing with the deck beginning to take shape over the coming weeks. 

Duke Energy has completed its work.  AT&T has informed the project team that their work will be starting soon. An update will be provided when more information is known.

Crews are currently working on forming up the third and final floor of the building.  Concrete for the third floor is scheduled to be poured on the morning of Thursday, May 18.  Once the third floor is complete, construction of the roof will begin and the building will be topped out.  

Focus will then shift to the building of the concrete parking deck.  

Utility work is ongoing, please follow the Town’s social media for the latest utility work notifications. 

Crews are finishing construction of the foundation system and first floor cast-in-place concrete on the 203 Project this month. 

Preparations are being made to pour the second floor concrete slab on Wednesday, April 19.  Utility crews are expected to begin removing old aerial communication cables around the site in the coming weeks. Please check the Town’s social media for ongoing utility work notifications.

In other updates, the Town Council will be considering policies and procedures for naming the building at the April 25 regular Town Council meeting.

Duke Energy will be performing utility work around the construction site on March 16-17 which will have traffic impacts between the hours of 9a.m. and 4 p.m.  Roberson Street traffic will be detoured to use the Main Street intersection instead of S. Greensboro Street. Maple Avenue residents will continue to use E. Carr Street and Maple Avenue Extension. Flaggers and temporary signs will be used to direct traffic.  

On March 14, an early morning concrete pour is scheduled for the first floor slab.  The pour will begin around 3 a.m. with concrete deliveries continuing throughout the morning.

In other updates, the site foundations and footings are nearly complete with more construction trades beginning to mobilize onsite.

Although January had 12 rain days, work on the 203 Project was productive.  Concrete columns and foundation walls have been installed for what will be the future library space.  The concrete structure forming in the middle of the site is the elevator shaft.  The contractor is currently making preparations to pour the first floor slab.  Utility work around the site will begin in the coming weeks which may result in some temporary lane closures and flagging.  Plumbing, electrical and mechanical contractors are mobilizing and preparing to begin rough-in work following the structure build out. For the latest news, photos, and aerial drone videos, visit www.the203project.org.   

The 203 Project construction is progressing on schedule.  The 130’ tower crane was erected on December 16^th.  This crane will stay up for the duration of construction to move materials around the site.  Currently the concrete foundation is being installed on the west side of the building.  The first floor of the concrete structure will begin to take form over the coming weeks as the slab and columns get built.  Overhead utility relocations are expected to take place next month so some temporary lane closures and flagging on S. Greensboro St. can be expected.  For the latest news, photos, and aerial drone videos, visit www.the203project.org.  

Construction is underway on the 203 Project at 203 S. Greensboro St., the project to complete a new library and civic building. Currently, the site is being graded and excavated for the concrete foundations and floor slab. A tower crane is beginning to go up!

Other updates include:

• A new traffic pattern has been in effect since November 1st and will remain in place for the duration of the project.
• Aggregate piers have been installed to prepare for the building foundation.
• Expect a significant amount of concrete to be poured over the next several months as the structure gets built.
• Entrance and exit gates are being fabricated and will be installed at the east and west corner

The new traffic pattern is in effect.  From observation, it appears Roberson is wide enough to continue to accommodate delivery vehicles.  Barnhill will be putting additional signage out to help with directing traffic.

Spectrum has so far been able to perform all of their work from the property side to keep from having a lane closure on S. Greensboro St.  We expect them to complete the work by the end of next week.

Foundation work is scheduled to begin soon.  Large equipment will be needed for the piers so some noise can be expected.  We will begin receiving small concrete deliveries over the next several weeks.  The concrete trucks will utilize the northeast corner entrance to the site.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 31, a new one-way traffic pattern will be implemented around the construction site of The 203 Project on S. Greensboro Street.

This will affect traffic movement on Roberson (westbound only), Maple (northbound only) and Carr (eastbound only) streets. This will affect traffic movement around the project site only. 

For accessing the Libba Cotten Bikeway, cyclists are encouraged to use Carr Street to avoid oncoming traffic on Roberson Street. 

South Greensboro Parking Lot closed beginning Oct. 17

Beginning Monday, Oct. 17 the parking lot located at 203 S. Greensboro St. will be closed to the public as crews prepare for construction of The 203 Project.

Alternative public parking lots are located around town.

Construction has recently begun on the 203 Project at 203 S. Greensboro St., currently the site of a Carrboro municipal parking lot across from Open Eye Cafe. The project to complete a new library and civic building will be underway through spring 2024. 

After conducting subsurface utility locating, excavation for the stormwater system began the week of Aug. 22, 2022, in the southwest corner of the site. Barnhill Contracting Co. constructed one stormwater junction box and installed about 50 feet of stormwater pipe. Utility coordination is ongoing among Dominion Gas, Spectrum/Charter and AT&T to accommodate construction. 

Currently, the eastern section of the parking lot is closed and barricaded off. Full closure of the parking lot is pending utility work with a date TBD. Signage has been ordered to notice the public of the lot closure date. Notification will be provided two weeks prior to the closure. Alternative parking locations are available around downtown.

At its Sept. 13, 2022, meeting, the Town Council heard from Barnhill Contracting Co. about their procedures for mitigating noise disturbances connected to construction. The project will require about eight early morning  (deemed after-hours) concrete pours to complete construction of the building and parking deck.  These pours are expected to take place prior to 7 a.m. 

Barnhill will notify the Town one week in advance of expected after-hours concrete work and will work with Town staff to notify residents and businesses of upcoming work. No more than two after-hours concrete pours will be permitted in a given week, and they will not fall on consecutive nights. No after-hours work will be permitted on Sunday.  The Council directed staff to expand the radius of neighborhood notification to inform of pending disturbances related to construction. 

The development will be the future home of Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources; Orange County Southern Branch Library; Orange County Skills Development Center; WCOM Radio; a teen center and performance/multipurpose uses. The 203 Project will provide opportunities for education, art and community connection. 

Aug. 9, 2022 -- Construction is about to start on the 203 Project at 203 S. Greensboro St., currently the site of a Carrboro municipal parking lot across from Open Eye Cafe. The project to complete a new library and civic building will be underway for the next 19 months.

Initially, only a portion of the project site will be closed for delivery of construction equipment and materials. The public will receive two weeks notice prior to the entire parking lot closure. Please find alternative parking locations on our Downtown Parking webpage.

The $42 million development will be the future home of the Orange County Southern Branch Library. The facility will also provide a permanent home for the Orange County Skills Development Center; Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department; WCOM Radio; and performance/multipurpose uses. The 203 Project will provide opportunities for education, art and community connection.

It will be a nearly 50,000 square foot public facility designed with energy efficiency and waste reduction features that will result in a LEED Gold equivalency. Green building features include stormwater control measures, daylighting, vegetative roofing and a state-of-the-art HVAC system. The project has received a Duke Energy building efficiency incentive.

While the parking lot currently holds about 88 parking spaces, upon completion of the new facility, the parking deck will have a 171 parking space capacity. This includes five electric vehicle charging spots. Another 25 parking spots will be installed with EV ready infrastructure for future upgrades. Additionally, 70 bike parking spots are planned. 

Mike Johnson
Capital Projects Manager
Town of Carrboro
919-918-7424
mjohnson@carrboronc.gov

Catherine Lazorko
Communication and Engagement Director
Town of Carrboro
919-918-7314
clazorko@carrboronc.gov

Todd McGee
Community Relations Director 
Orange County
919-245-2302
tmcgee@orangecountync.gov 

In 2016, the Town began actively exploring development of the existing parking lot at 203 S. Greensboro Street in response to a request from Orange County to locate the new Orange County Southern Branch Library there. 

 Local governing boards approve new library and cultural center for Carrboro

Read more background information about The 203 Project.