UNC Health Blue Ridge Tower named best healthcare project in Southeast

The patient tower at UNC Health Blue Ridge’s Morganton campus has earned another prestigious honor, being named Best Project in the healthcare category by Engineering News-Record (ENR) for the Southeast region.

ENR is widely regarded as one of the construction industry’s most respected publications, recognizing projects that demonstrate excellence in planning, design, construction, safety, innovation, and collaboration.

Submitted by construction partner Brasfield & Gorrie, the Morganton Tower Addition was selected from projects across seven southeastern states and Puerto Rico, earning top honors among healthcare construction projects throughout the region. The recognition places the tower among the Southeast’s most outstanding construction achievements of 2026 and advances the project to ENR’s national Best of the Best competition, where it will be evaluated alongside regional winners from across the country.

“This tower was designed to meet the needs of a growing patient population while modernizing our hospitals infrastructure for decades to come,” said Deanne Avery, director of planning, design, construction, and real estate for UNC Health Blue Ridge. “To have the project recognized by one of the most respected and influential organizations in the construction industry is a tremendous honor. This award reflects the dedication, expertise, and teamwork of everyone involved in bringing this vision to life.”

Completed in August 2024, the approximately $118 million tower expansion transformed healthcare access in Western North Carolina. The project increased the hospital’s footprint from 338,060 square feet to more than 557,000 square feet and created a modern environment designed to support advanced patient care. The tower includes a state-of-the-art intensive care unit, expanded emergency department, centralized inpatient care units, and a rooftop helipad. It also played a significant role in supporting UNC Health Blue Ridge’s designation as a Level III Trauma Center.

The award is the latest recognition for a project that has already gained national attention for both design excellence and healthcare innovation. Earlier honors included the 2025 Excellence in Health Care Facility Management Award from the American Society for Health Care Engineering, 2025 Community Impact Award issued by Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) Charlotte, 2025 Excellence in Construction Merit Award Issued by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Carolinas, and recognition through Buildings.com’s Elev8 Design Awards.

According to ENR, independent panels of construction, engineering, and design professionals evaluate projects based on criteria including safety, innovation, teamwork, construction quality, and the ability to overcome challenges. This year, Southeast judges reviewed entries across 18 categories before selecting the region’s top projects.

“This recognition is a reflection of the incredible partnerships, planning, and commitment that made this project possible,” Avery said. “Most importantly, it represents our investment in the future of healthcare for the communities we serve.”