About

This project included a comprehensive renovation of more than 15,000 square feet of first-floor retail and service space in App State’s University Bookstore — now known as the Campus Store, with a goal of increasing sales revenue to enhance the store’s scholarship contributions for App State students.

High volumes of pedestrian traffic through the store, along with emerging retailing strategies and consideration of associated space programming, led to the preparation of a strategic study in 2019 for space improvements.

Some of the store improvements included:

• Digital signage displays.
• A new sound system.
• Decor that highlights App State’s campus culture and the university’s High Country setting.

Located at the heart of campus in Plemmons Student Union, the store serves the entire App State Community, as well as campus guests. The two-story store, constructed in 1969 and renovated a handful of times since, provides students with services and goods and houses the university’s textbook rental program, which launched its new digital delivery system in summer 2021. Established in 1938, the program saves most students hundreds of dollars over the course of their academic careers. Students saved over $5 million in 2022–23 by participating in the program, and 99% of App State’s student population has utilized the digital textbook rental system since its launch.

Campus Store proceeds support student scholarships at App State. Since 2014, the store has contributed more than $5.1 million in scholarship funds to help App State students finance their education.

The newly renovated Campus Store at App State — shown here on Aug. 9, 2023, during the store’s grand reopening — features decor that highlights App State’s campus culture and the university’s High Country setting, as well as new digital signage displays, a new sound system, new flooring and lighting fixtures, and more. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State Community members gather outside the university’s Campus Store for its grand reopening, held Aug. 9, 2023. Visitors were treated to a barbecue lunch as part of the reopening event. Photo by Chase Reynolds

A newly renovated entryway of App State’s Campus Store — formerly known as the University Bookstore. The store’s grand reopening was held Aug. 9, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Campus Store staff are pictured on the store’s atrium steps during the store’s grand reopening, held Aug. 9, 2023. Pictured in the foreground is John Eckman, associate vice chancellor of campus services, with Pam Walker, director of App State’s Campus Store, shown at right in the first row. Photo by Chase Reynolds

A Campus Store employee assists a customer with a purchase during the store’s grand reopening, held Aug. 9, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

An apparel section of the newly renovated Campus Store (formerly known as the University Bookstore) is shown in this Aug. 9, 2023, photo. Photo by Chase Reynolds

The renovation of App State's University Bookstore is nearing completion, as shown in this photo taken June 20, 2023. The bookstore is scheduled to be open in time for the fall 2023 semester. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Workers apply new flooring as part of the first-floor renovation of App Sate’s University Bookstore, as shown in this June 2, 2023, photo. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Finishing touches are in progress as part of the first-floor renovation of App State’s University Bookstore. The facility’s atrium is pictured in this photo, taken June 2, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

The application of flooring is among the last steps in App State’s first-floor renovation of the University Bookstore. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction work continues for the first-floor renovation of App State’s University Bookstore, as shown in this photo taken March 21, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction work continues for the first-floor renovation of App State’s University Bookstore, as shown in this photo taken March 21, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction work continues for the first-floor renovation of App State’s University Bookstore, as shown in this photo taken March 21, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction work continues for the first-floor renovation of App State’s University Bookstore, as shown in this photo taken March 21, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on the University Bookstore at App State, as of Jan. 23, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

First-floor construction at the University Bookstore as of Jan. 23, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Prepared construction materials are pictured inside the University Bookstore on Jan. 23, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction workers are pictured in the first floor of the Appalachian State University Bookstore on Jan. 23, 2023. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction work for the renovation of App State’s University Bookstore is underway, as shown in this photo taken Dec. 19, 2022. Photo submitted

An early redesign concept for the atrium in App State’s University Bookstore is shown in this artist's rendering. Graphic courtesy of Jenkins Peer Architects

An early redesign concept for the University Bookstore’s first floor and atrium is shown in this artist's rendering. Graphic courtesy of Jenkins Peer Architects

This concept art shows what the renovated seasonal and trade books section of the University Bookstore might look like. Graphic courtesy of Jenkins Peer Architects

An artist's rendering of the redesigned University Bookstore entrance from Plemmons Student Union. Graphic courtesy of Jenkins Peer Architects

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Status

On March 27, 2020, App State’s Board of Trustees approved $170,036 in funding for the advanced planning stage of the project. The board authorized full funding for the project — bringing the total to approximately $5 million — during its Dec. 3, 2021, meeting, and the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors approved the full project funding at its Jan. 20, 2022, meeting.

App State worked with project designer Jenkins Peer Architects to develop construction plans for the renovation. Those plans were finalized in November 2022 and construction began Dec. 19, 2022, with the renovation concluding in early August 2023.

A soft opening for the Campus Store took place Aug. 1, 2023, and the store’s grand reopening was held Aug. 9, 2023.

How is it funded?

This renovation project is supported by the university’s auxiliary trust funds, including revenue generated through Campus Store sales.

Who will benefit?

The entire App State Community, including students, faculty and staff, as well as alumni, Mountaineer fans, campus visitors and local residents, will benefit from the bookstore renovation.

How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?

An enhanced campus designed with students, faculty, staff and the public in mind supports recruitment and retention of all members of the university and local communities.

Potential increases in Campus Store revenue generated as a result of the renovation can provide more scholarship support for App State students. These funds support a wide range of student scholarships across the university, contributing to the affordability of an App State education.

App State’s state-of-the-art textbook rental program, which operates through a digital delivery system, provides equitable access, convenience, sustainability and savings to most students. The program contributes to the affordability of an App State education for current and prospective students, and aligns with the university’s goal of providing equal access for all to App State — a premier public institution.

The store’s Campus Services Express, located on the second floor, provides students, faculty and staff with convenient access to AppCard, Campus Dining and Parking and Transportation services. Here, App State Community members can register for campus parking, make changes to their meal plans and obtain new or replacement AppCards. Students can also visit this space to apply for Campus Services jobs across campus.

App State’s official regalia, available for purchase through the Campus Store, is made in the USA, with fabric produced from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. With an average of 25 plastic bottles used to produce each cap and gown, App State’s Spring 2023 Commencement ceremonies diverted more than 73,000 plastic bottles.

Centrally positioned on App State’s campus, the Campus Store serves as an ideal location from which to host and highlight guest speakers and campuswide events. The store is also a first and regular point of contact for numerous members of the App State Community — and beyond. Some key points of engagement:

• As a regular stop on campus tours, the store is one of the first avenues through which prospective App State students and their families connect with the university and its brand.
• The Campus Store receives further traffic from alumni who frequent the facility when returning for App State events, such as Homecoming, as well as Mountaineer fans who purchase their App State gear at the Campus Store and the Team Store it operates at Kidd Brewer Stadium.