Campus
East Carolina University, a well-regarded higher education institution in the southern state of North Carolina, is divided into three primary campuses: Main Campus, Health Sciences Campus, and West Research Campus. Additionally, it owns two sports complexes—Blount Recreational Sports Complex and North Recreational Complex—as well as a field station in New Holland, North Carolina.
Main Campus
The educational institution’s Main Campus, also called the East Campus, spans approximately 530 acres in an urban residential district of Greenville. Home to 158 buildings, it offers over 4.6 million square feet of academic, research, and residential space. Many buildings reflect Spanish-Mission style architecture, inspired by Thomas Jarvis’ tenure as an ambassador to Brazil.
Five distinct districts define the campus: Campus Core, Downtown District, Warehouse District, Athletic Fields, and the South Academic District. Campus Core houses 15 residence halls divided into three neighborhoods. A notable feature of Main Campus is the central mall, a large, tree-lined grassy space where students relax. At its center is a replica of the cupola from the original Austin building.
Athletic Facilities
Varsity athletic fields are situated south of College Hill’s residential area, divided by Fourteenth Street. These facilities are bordered by Charles Boulevard to the west and Greenville Boulevard to the south. The northern section features Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Minges Coliseum, and Minges Natatorium, along with surrounding parking areas. The Murphy Center, a premier strength, conditioning, and banquet facility, is located between Dowdy-Ficklen and Minges Coliseum. Nearby, the Ward Sports Medicine Building houses offices for football, the Pirate Club, and athletic administration.
Additional facilities include the Scales Field House, offering locker rooms, athletic department offices, and classrooms for ECU’s athletic training program. The Cliff Moore Practice Facility, south of these buildings, consists of two natural grass fields and a FieldTurf field for football. Clark-LeClair Stadium, dedicated to men’s baseball, is located on the southern edge and seats 3,000, with an additional 2,000 outfield seats.
The Olympic Sports Complex, completed in 2011 at a cost of $23.4 million, includes a women’s soccer stadium, softball field, track and field facilities, and the Olympic Sports Team building. The Smith-Williams Center, a $17 million basketball development and practice facility, opened in 2013. Planned upgrades for the football stadium, costing $40 million, will expand seating capacity from 50,000 to 60,000.
From 1998 to 2011, ECU invested $92 million into athletic infrastructure, and with future projects, total expenditures will rise to $145 million.
Health Sciences Campus
The Health Sciences Campus trains professionals in nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, speech therapy, and medicine. Many graduates remain in eastern North Carolina, serving underserved communities. The campus is adjacent to ECU Health Medical Center, formerly Pitt County Memorial Hospital and Vidant Medical Center.
ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center with 861 beds, is the academic hospital for the Brody School of Medicine. This campus, located two miles west of Main Campus, spans 206 acres and offers nearly 1.3 million square feet of academic and research space across 62 buildings. Notable structures include the Brody Medicine Science Building, East Carolina Heart Institute, Leo Jenkins Cancer Center, and the Allied Health building, which houses the College of Nursing and the College of Allied Health Sciences. The Family Medicine Center, measuring 117,000 square feet, opened in 2011. Ross Hall, home to the School of Dental Medicine, spans just under 200,000 square feet.
West Research Campus
Situated about four miles west of the Health Sciences Campus, the West Research Campus spans 600 acres. It includes four buildings covering 36,000 square feet, built on the former Voice of America site. Approximately 367 acres are designated as wetlands and serve as field study locations for disciplines like biology and botany.
A notable feature is the environmental health onsite wastewater demonstration facility, open to both the public and educators. The campus is also home to the North Carolina Institute for Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, along with several administrative and support buildings.
Research and Academic Centers
ECU hosts several research centers and institutes, including:
- The Brody School of Medicine
- ECU School of Dental Medicine
- East Carolina Heart Institute
- Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center
- Innovation Design Lab
- Family Medicine Center
- Coastal Studies Institute
- Center for Epidemiology and Outcomes Research
- Small Business Institute
- Institute for Coastal Science and Policy
- Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center
- Center for Sustainable Tourism
- Center for Sustainability
- Center for Natural Hazards
- Center for Geographic Information Science
- Center for Applied Computational Studies
- Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education
- Center for Survey Research
- Lost Colony Center for Science & Research
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute
- Pocosin Arts Riverside Lodge
- NC Agromedicine Institute
- Golden LEAF Educational Consortium
- Community Service Learning Centers
School of Dental Medicine Community Centers
The School of Dental Medicine operates eight community service learning centers in underserved areas of North Carolina, where fourth-year students provide patient care. These centers are located in Ahoskie, Elizabeth City, Lillington, Spruce Pine, Bolivia, Thomasville, Lumberton, and Sylva.
Coastal Studies Field Station
Located in New Holland, North Carolina, the Field Station for Coastal Studies supports research in coastal resource management, environmental education, and eco-tourism. It is adjacent to the Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge, a 49,925-acre protected area, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
North Recreational Complex
The North Recreational Complex (NRC), covering 129 acres, is among the largest in the nation. It complements the Blount Intramural Sports Fields behind the Carol Belk Building. The first phase, opened in 2008, features eight lighted fields, a 5.6-acre lake with a beach, walking trails, and a fieldhouse.
Phase II, opened in 2011, introduced a boathouse, canoe and kayak rentals, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, fitness equipment, a disc golf course, and a zip line. The complex is located near the intersection of North Carolina Highway 33 and U.S. Route 264.
UNC Coastal Studies Institute
East Carolina University manages the UNC Coastal Studies Institute (UNC-CSI), an inter-university marine research institute on Roanoke Island, Outer Banks. Established in 2003, it focuses on estuarine ecology, coastal processes, public policy, sustainability, and maritime heritage.