UNC Charlotte launches a new school aimed at helping city’s rapid growth
UNC Charlotte will launch a new school of construction, school leaders announced Tuesday, as the city eyes more than $2 billion in new construction planned for its center city by 2027.
The Albert School of Construction will be named for UNC Charlotte alumni Craig and Darla Albert, who gave the lead gift for the new school’s founding. Classes will begin this fall, and the new school will be housed within the William States Lee College of Engineering.
“Right now, there’s a real shortage of construction capacity,” Craig Albert said in a news release ahead of Tuesday’s announcement. “If we want those ambitions to be realized, we have to grow the number of professionals who can build the systems that make it all possible.”
The program will be the first in North Carolina to focus on the full project lifecycle — from planning, design and engineering through construction and long-term operation — rather than one phase of the process, Rob Keynton, dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering said in a news release. However, there are other construction programs in the state, including a construction engineering major at North Carolina State University and a construction management major at North Carolina A&T State University.
“We are preparing students to step into complex projects with a broader understanding of how teams, systems and decisions connect,” said Professor Lingguang Song, executive director of the new construction school. “That perspective is what the industry is demanding, and it is what will set our graduates apart.”
Song previously served as a department chair and professor of engineering technology and construction management in UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering.
The new construction school will offer four degrees, including one new program:
- Bachelor’s degree in construction engineering, which is new and starting in fall 2026. UNC Charlotte describes this degree as integrating civil engineering fundamentals with construction management, emphasizing structural design and construction methods, digital technologies, cost and schedule management and problem-solving in the field.
- Bachelor’s degree in construction management. UNC Charlotte says this degree focuses on the business, technology and management of construction projects, including estimating, scheduling, safety and field operations.
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology. UNC Charlotte says this degree focuses on applied engineering and technology for civil infrastructure design and construction, including hands-on experience in surveying, CAD, materials testing, and field technology.
- Master’s degree in construction and facilities engineering. UNC Charlotte says this degree prepares recipients with specialized skills to oversee complex construction projects and facility operations, focusing on advanced project planning, logistics and long-term operational management.
Albert, who works as president and chief operating officer of construction and project management company Bechtel Group, said the program is sorely needed. He cited an aging engineering workforce and high demand for workers with knowledge across engineering, supply chain and emerging technologies.
Over $2.4 billion in new construction is planned for Charlotte’s urban center – comprising uptown, south end and midtown – by 2027, according to Charlotte Center City Partners’ “State of the Center City” report released earlier this year. That includes a combined estimated 1.2 million square feet of office space and over 4,800 apartments slated to break ground within the year.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte region continues to grow: The population is expected to swell by 50% by 2050, according to 2025 estimates from The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
The new program is one of several moves UNC Charlotte has made toward growing its programs and facilities in recent years. In 2024, the school gained coveted “R1” research status, and in November, it launched its “For the Love of Charlotte” giving campaign, its largest fundraising effort ever. The campaign, which is co-chaired by Craig and Darla Albert, has a total fundraising goal of $500 million and has secured over half of that total so far.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM with the headline "UNC Charlotte launches a new school aimed at helping city’s rapid growth."
