Historic South Building Roof Replacement Complete
Muter Construction has completed the South Building Roof Replacement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
South Building has anchored the UNC campus since 1798. Home to the offices of the Chancellor and senior university leadership, and the former stomping grounds of U.S. President James K. Polk (Class of 1818), it’s one of the most storied structures in American public higher education. Working on a building like that requires a level of care that goes beyond standard roofing work.
The project included a full copper roof replacement across 7,500 SF, major repairs and modifications to the roof deck, and extensive restoration of the cupola. The highlight of the job was the installation of a custom copper finial and weathervane, recreated to match the originals. Getting it in place required a street closure, a bucket lift, and a compass — the weathervane had to be oriented with exact directionality. The new copper roof is uncoated, which means it will slowly oxidize over the next 25 years until it matches the iconic blue-green patina of the Old Well just across Cameron Avenue. Just the kind of detail that makes a project memorable!
“This was a significant undertaking,” said UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “But it was an important step in making sure that one of the most important buildings in the state of North Carolina is preserved for generations to come.”
Muter Construction is proud to have been trusted with a piece of Carolina’s history, and grateful to the UNC Facilities team and all project partners for their collaboration from start to finish
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