Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) is one of North Carolina’s largest and most comprehensive community colleges, serving New Hanover and Pender counties through its Wilmington, North Campus, Burgaw, and Surf City locations. Guided by its mission to provide dynamic and supportive learning opportunities, environments, and services that foster academic achievement, career-focused training, and personal success, CFCC plays a vital role in workforce development, university transfer education, and community enrichment throughout southeastern North Carolina. Its strong connections to industry, commitment to student success, and deep community roots make CFCC a transformative resource for the region and a uniquely positioned institution within the North Carolina Community College System.
To support this vision, Morris-Berg Architects, in partnership with JMZ Architects, is working closely with Cape Fear Community College to develop a comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) that will guide future investments in campus facilities, infrastructure, and student-centered environments. More than a traditional facilities study, this planning effort is focused on understanding what makes CFCC distinctive—its culture, its people, its programs, and its role within the communities it serves. By identifying and building upon these unique strengths, the plan will establish a roadmap for strategic growth while preserving the character and identity that define the College.
A cornerstone of our planning approach is listening. Rather than applying a predetermined vision, our process is designed to adapt and respond to the voices of the campus and community. Throughout the spring of 2026, the planning team conducted interviews, workshops, and discussions with faculty, staff, administrators, students, coaches, workforce development leaders, and community partners. These conversations provide critical insight into how the College operates today, where opportunities exist for improvement, and what stakeholders believe should be preserved as CFCC continues to evolve.
Through this engagement process, recurring themes have emerged that help define the College’s identity. Stakeholders consistently describe CFCC as a student-focused institution that is deeply connected to regional workforce needs while maintaining strong pathways to higher education. They have highlighted the importance of flexibility, accessibility, community partnerships, and hands-on learning experiences. These insights are helping shape planning recommendations that reflect the aspirations of the people who learn, teach, work, and engage with the College every day.
Student success remains at the center of the effort. Through interviews and workshops, stakeholders have emphasized the importance of creating welcoming, engaging, and supportive campus environments that encourage persistence and completion. The planning process is evaluating how facilities can foster collaboration, connection, wellness, and belonging while creating a more vibrant campus experience for students across all CFCC locations.
The LRFP also recognizes CFCC’s critical role as a workforce and economic development partner for southeastern North Carolina. Through collaboration with employers, industry leaders, local governments, and educational partners, the College is assessing future workforce trends and identifying facility needs that will support high-demand industries. From healthcare and advanced manufacturing to construction trades, logistics, public safety, and emerging technologies, the plan seeks to ensure that CFCC remains responsive to regional needs while strengthening its role as an engine for economic mobility and community prosperity.
The Long-Range Facilities Plan is currently moving through its analysis and visioning phases, with stakeholder input, facility assessments, enrollment projections, and strategic priorities being integrated into a comprehensive roadmap for the future. As recommendations continue to be refined, the planning team remains committed to a process that is informed by the College’s community and guided by what makes Cape Fear Community College unique. The College anticipates completing the Long-Range Facilities Plan by the end of this year, providing a clear framework for future investments that will support students, employees, and the communities of New Hanover and Pender counties for years to come.
