Smith Sinnett Architecture is proud to announce that the NC National Guard McLeansville Field Maintenance Shop has officially achieved LEED Certification, recognizing the facility’s commitment to sustainable design, resource efficiency, and long-term building performance.

Located within the 66-acre, $100+ million McLeansville Regional Readiness Center campus, the 29,434-square-foot Field Maintenance Shop provides mission-critical support for military vehicle maintenance and fleet operations serving the North Carolina National Guard’s largest regional campus. The facility includes heavy-duty repair bays, administrative offices, classrooms, tool and equipment storage, and specialized support spaces designed to maximize operational efficiency.

From the earliest planning stages, sustainability was an important project goal. The facility incorporates strategies that reduce water consumption, improve energy performance, minimize construction waste, encourage responsible material selection, and support a healthy indoor environment. Together, these strategies earned the project official LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizing its commitment to sustainable design and long-term building performance.

“LEED certification represents more than a checklist—it reflects thoughtful design decisions that improve building performance, reduce operating costs, and create facilities that better serve the people who rely on them every day,” said Robert Carmac, AIA, Principal.

Smith Sinnett Architecture provided advanced planning, architectural design, interior design, and construction administration services for the Field Maintenance Shop as part of the larger McLeansville Regional Readiness Center campus. The certification reinforces the firm’s ongoing commitment to designing durable, high-performing facilities that serve North Carolina’s communities and public institutions for generations to come.

We are honored to support the North Carolina National Guard with facilities that are built for today’s mission while preparing for tomorrow’s needs, and we congratulate everyone whose collaboration made this achievement possible.

Smith Sinnett Architecture Receives AIA Triangle Citation Award for Farmville Public Library

We are proud to announce that Smith Sinnett Architecture has been recognized with a Citation Award in the Large Project category at the 2026 AIA Triangle Design Awards for the Farmville Public Library.

The awards were presented on April 16, 2026, at the 21c Museum Hotel in Durham, North Carolina. Projects were evaluated by a distinguished jury led by Andrew Thompson, who assessed submissions based on design quality, responsiveness to context, and overall impact on the community.

The AIA Triangle Design Awards celebrate outstanding contemporary architecture across the region, recognizing projects that elevate design excellence while improving the communities they serve. We are honored to be included among this year’s recipients.

A Community-Driven Vision

The Farmville Public Library project began as a renovation but quickly evolved into a full replacement—an opportunity to create a long-term civic asset that could better meet the town’s growing and changing needs.

From the outset, community engagement played a central role in shaping the design. Input from residents helped guide decisions about programming, flexibility, and the overall character of the building, ensuring the final result reflects the identity and priorities of Farmville.

A Modern Library Rooted in Context

Located on a compact downtown site, the approximately 17,000-square-foot, two-story library transforms a small corner into a vibrant civic hub. The design balances a traditional exterior—carefully integrated into its surroundings—with a light-filled, modern interior that supports a wide range of uses.

The library includes:

• Flexible meeting and community rooms
• Maker and collaborative spaces
• Genealogy and research resources
• Open reading and gathering areas
• A secure after-hours event space to extend community use

Every element was designed to maximize efficiency, adaptability, and accessibility while reinforcing the library’s role as a central gathering place.

Designing for Lasting Impact

This recognition from AIA Triangle reflects the project’s success in combining thoughtful design with meaningful community impact. The Farmville Public Library is more than a building—it is a space that fosters connection, learning, and civic life.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Town of Farmville, project partners, and community members who helped bring this vision to life. It was a privilege to collaborate on a project that will serve the community for generations to come.

Last week, community leaders, service members, and partners gathered in North Wilkesboro, NC to mark a major milestone — the ribbon-cutting for the revitalized North Carolina National Guard Readiness Center. This event celebrated the completion of a modern, mission-ready facility that will support Guard operations and training for years to come.

The ceremony was a testament to collaboration — bringing together military leaders, elected officials, local business partners, and residents to honor the dedication and commitment of those who serve. Attendees heard remarks highlighting how this revitalized facility not only strengthens the Guard’s operational readiness but also reinforces its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to state and federal missions.

The new Readiness Center embodies a commitment to modern infrastructure for our National Guard, ensuring that personnel have the space, technology, and resources needed for training, administration, and logistical support. Its completion is an investment in both national defense and local community resilience.

As part of the celebration, the ribbon-cutting recognized a project that enhances readiness while honoring the community’s support of the Guard and its service members. The center will continue to be a hub for service, training, and community partnerships in Wilkes County and across western North Carolina.

We were honored to attend alongside our fellow partners and to witness this important moment for the National Guard and the people of North Wilkesboro. Congratulations to all involved. Here’s to the future of service, readiness, and community impact!

Smith Sinnett Architecture was honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Freedom Middle School, a transformative project for Craven County Schools that will unite the Tucker Creek and Havelock middle school communities into one shared campus in the Havelock area.

The ceremony brought together district leadership, elected officials, students, and community members to celebrate this important milestone. The future Freedom Middle School represents more than new construction—it reflects long-term investment in students, educators, and the broader eastern North Carolina community.

A Full-Circle Moment

For our team, this project carries special significance.

Nearly 30 years ago, Smith Sinnett Architecture designed Tucker Creek Middle School. Now, we return to the same campus to help shape its next chapter. Freedom Middle School builds upon that foundation, expanding and modernizing the campus to support the evolving needs of today’s learners.

Project Overview

The project includes a three-wing addition and interior renovations to the existing Tucker Creek Middle School facility. The expansion will provide:

• 21 new classrooms
• Outdoor learning spaces
• Enhancements to the cafeteria
• Improvements to the gymnasium
• Upgrades to the performing arts wing

Together, these additions and renovations will create a unified, flexible, and future-ready learning environment designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and student success.

Designed for Community and Growth

Freedom Middle School will bring together students and staff from Tucker Creek Middle School and Havelock Middle School into one cohesive campus. The design prioritizes connection—both academically and socially—while ensuring the facility supports modern educational delivery for generations to come.

We extend our congratulations to Superintendent Dr. Matthew Cheeseman on his recent appointment and look forward to continuing to support Craven County Schools’ vision for student success.

Construction is underway, with a ribbon cutting anticipated in August 2027. We are grateful for the continued trust placed in our team and proud to play a role in shaping the future of education in Craven County.

Design matters. Service matters. Community matters.

A Historic Investment in Readiness

Smith Sinnett Architecture is proud to celebrate the completion and ribbon cutting of the McLeansville Regional Readiness Center Campus in McLeansville, North Carolina — a transformational investment in military readiness and infrastructure for our state.

Originally approved through the 2016 State Bond Referendum at approximately $37.9 million, the project has evolved into the largest financial undertaking ever executed by the North Carolina National Guard’s Construction and Facilities Management Office (CFMO). The current design and construction budget stands at $65.1 million, with additional funds allocated for building upfits.

Building the Largest Regional Hub in the State

Advance planning began in December 2018 to program a facility capable of housing the 113th Sustainment Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, Support Operations, the 196th Signal Company, and the 882nd Engineer Company.

The completed Regional Readiness Center includes approximately 85,000 square feet of administrative space, classrooms, assembly areas, fitness facilities, locker rooms, and unit storage, along with an 11,000-square-foot unheated storage building and a 400-square-foot guard house. The campus provides 396 personal-owned vehicle parking spaces and a military-operated vehicle area totaling more than 240,000 square feet.

Designed for resilience and reliability, the facility includes two permanent 750-kilowatt diesel generators and an Army Fitness Test field with a one-mile running loop along the perimeter road.

Infrastructure at a Transformational Scale

Significant coordination was required to establish site infrastructure. In partnership with Guilford County and the City of Greensboro, the project team secured and coordinated a $10 million state utility grant to extend water service approximately 2.5 miles to the site — including installation of the largest pump station in Guilford County.

Additional coordination with Duke Energy and Duke Piedmont Natural Gas extended natural gas service approximately one mile to the campus.

The early site package, awarded to Smith Sinnett Architecture in July 2020, included clearing and grading approximately 70 acres and drilling and blasting nearly 37,000 cubic yards of rock. Construction for this phase began in April 2021 and was completed in July 2022.

Field Maintenance Shop: Supporting Operational Readiness

The McLeansville Field Maintenance Shop (FMS 9), a separate MILCON project, was designed to replace FMS 8 in High Point and FMS 9 in Greensboro. Originally budgeted at $15 million, the project ultimately reached a design and construction budget of $23 million.

The 32,000-square-foot facility includes office space, classrooms, storage, and a six-bay maintenance area, along with a 3,200-square-foot covered wash rack. Supporting infrastructure includes a permanent 450-kilowatt diesel generator, additional storage facilities, dedicated parking, and a 170,000-square-foot motor vehicle operations area.

The building package bidding process resulted in a $10 million value engineering reduction, demonstrating disciplined cost management while maintaining performance standards.

Delivering Complex, Mission-Critical Campuses

The McLeansville Regional Readiness Center Campus reflects years of planning, coordination, and collaboration among state agencies, utility providers, contractors, and the design team.

From infrastructure development and value engineering to sustainability and long-term resilience, this project demonstrates Smith Sinnett Architecture’s ability to deliver complex, large-scale campuses that support mission-critical operations.

We are honored to contribute to a facility that strengthens readiness, supports the men and women of the North Carolina National Guard, and will serve our state for generations to come.

We’re excited to celebrate a major achievement for one of our own: Jack Pierce is officially a licensed architect and proud new member of the AIA.

Jack joined Smith Sinnett after graduating from NC State with degrees in Environmental Design and Architecture, bringing with him an impressive mix of curiosity, technical skill, and an eagerness to learn. From the start, he’s stood out for his ability to dive into the details—whether he’s exploring how a façade anchors to a structural system or thoughtfully coordinating the functional layers that bring a building to life.

This milestone reflects the qualities we’ve seen in Jack every day. He’s disciplined, focused, and genuinely enthusiastic about the craft of architecture. His thoughtful questions and drive to understand why things work make him a valued collaborator across project teams.

Achieving licensure is no small feat, requiring hundreds of hours of experience and a rigorous series of exams. Jack reached this milestone with the same steady determination he brings to his design work, and we couldn’t be prouder.

Please join us in congratulating Jack on this accomplishment. We’re thrilled to see where his career goes from here—and grateful to have him shaping the future of Smith Sinnett’s work.

Smith Sinnett is proud to announce that we were selected as one of 15 firms featured in the latest edition of NC Architecture Magazine! The special “Unconventional Projects” issue celebrates innovative, bold designs that expand the possibilities of architecture.

Our two featured projects—The American Cooperative School of Tunis and the School of Aerospace Technology—highlight our passion for designing future-ready educational environments that respond to community needs.

The American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST)
Serving a diverse, global community, ACST needed a flexible master plan that would expand opportunities for collaboration, cultural exchange, and project-based learning. Our design introduced STEAM labs, study rooms, and a central learning commons that connects new academic wings. Outdoor learning areas at multiple levels further enrich the campus experience. A detailed phasing plan ensured the school remained safe and fully operational throughout construction.

School of Aerospace Technology
As a regional hub for innovation, the School of Aerospace Technology prepares students for high-demand careers in aerospace, aviation, and advanced STEM fields. At the heart of this 52,220 SF facility is a 15,000 SF air hangar surrounded by flexible workspaces, classrooms, and labs. Designed in partnership with local colleges and military divisions, the school equips students with hands-on training and industry-aligned skills while supporting military-connected families in the region.

We are honored to see these projects included in NC Architecture Magazine’s pages and grateful to our clients, partners, and collaborators who helped bring these designs to life. Together, we’re shaping spaces that inspire innovation, foster community, and prepare students for the future.

Forsyth Tech Community College held a ribbon cutting on August 18 to officially open its brand-new courtyard at the Silas Creek Campus. The event marked an exciting milestone for the college—the first time students will enjoy a dedicated quad on campus.

The courtyard, completed as part of Phase 2 of the ongoing Learning Commons project, was designed to give students a vibrant outdoor space to learn, connect, and recharge.

Smith Sinnett is proud to be part of this transformation alongside our consultants, Bolton & Menk and PDC. Architect Jay Sikes represented our team at the ribbon cutting, celebrating with FTCC leadership, faculty, and students.

Congratulations to Forsyth Tech on this new addition to campus life!