Steven D. Bell Hall will open for classes in January 2026.
Named in honor of Steven D. Bell (BA ’67), this transformative space will enable us to admit 50% more Carolina students to the Undergraduate Business Program – over 500 majors per year – for the 2026-2027 academic year. It also increases our classrooms by 65% and new collaborative spaces will enhance student life and community engagement.
Designed with sustainability in mind and inspired by the natural environment, Bell Hall will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, a 40-seat outdoor tiered teaching area, a four-story central atrium surrounded by collaboration and study spaces, plus meeting rooms, event venues, dining facilities and outdoor terraces.
Join us at the Bell Hall Grand Opening Celebration, November 6-8, to celebrate this milestone together.
On November 6, attend the Weatherspoon Lecture featuring keynote speaker Jason Kilar (ABJM, BSBA ’93), followed by a reception and a sneak peek of the new building.
On November 7, enjoy a breakfast buffet, dedication ceremonies and an open house to explore Bell Hall and its innovative spaces. Return on November 8 for a tailgate before the big game.
Registration for the Steven D. Bell Hall Grand Opening Celebration is now closed. Please contact KFBSRSVP@kenan-flagler.unc.edu for questions or assistance.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, November 6 | Weatherspoon Lecture and Preview Reception of Bell Hall
6 p.m. Weatherspoon Lecture featuring Jason Kilar, Koury Auditorium
Hear from UNC alumnus and trailblazing media executive Jason Kilar as he shares lessons in leadership and innovation.
Kilar is a technology and media executive/entrepreneur that has invested his career in the creation, building and scaling of companies that obsess over customers. He was the founding CEO of Hulu, a senior executive at Amazon during its earliest years as a public company, and was the CEO of WarnerMedia (now called Warner Bros Discovery). Kilar began his career with The Walt Disney Company and was also co-founder/CEO of the online video service Vessel (which was acquired by Verizon). He is currently – and quietly – building a new company with a number of his colleagues that comprised Hulu’s founding team. Kilar serves on the boards of directors of Roblox and Wealthfront and philanthropically serves as a trustee for Lick-Wilmerding School in San Francisco. He is a graduate of both UNC-Chapel Hill and Harvard Business School. More important than any of the above, Kilar is lucky to be married to his wife, Jamie, for 28 years and counting. They are doing the best they can raising four good kids.
7 p.m. Bell Hall Preview Reception
Be among the first to experience Bell Hall with an exclusive preview featuring gourmet bites, refreshments and dynamic performances by talented UNC students, celebrating the spirit and creativity of our community.
Friday, November 7 | Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Artist Talk, Gallery Dedication, Open House
8:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
10 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Steven D. Bell Hall
Celebrate the opening of Steven D. Bell Hall featuring the UNC Marching Tar Heels.
11:30 a.m. – Artist Talk
12 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Gallery Dedication
Celebrate Steve Cumbie and Drucie French’s gift of art cases that house the Johnson Art Collection. Sarah Tignor, Director of the Johnson Collection, will offer insights into the featured North Carolina artwork on display in the space.
1 p.m. Open House
Discover how our spaces empower students, faculty and the business community.
1:45 p.m. Leonard W. Wood Center Dedication
Celebrate the Leonard W. Wood Center’s new home in Bell Hall.
Saturday, November 8 | UNC Kenan-Flagler Alumni Tailgate for UNC v. Stanford Football Game
UNC Kenan-Flagler alumni and guests are invited to join us to tailgate for the UNC v. Stanford homecoming football game! The tailgate will start two hours before kick-off and will be located on the terrace of Steven D. Bell Hall. Alumni can look forward to food, beverages, music and connecting with other alumni.
Special Thanks
The arts are an essential part of student life at UNC, reaching across undergraduate and graduate academic programs, student extracurricular life, and in the relationships that students form in our Chapel Hill and greater Triangle communities. Carolina students are musicians, poets, dancers, painters, and so much more. Special thanks to the UNC Department of Music and their faculty and students for infusing the opening of Bell Hall with their artistry and innovation. There’s no business like show business! Hark the Sound!
Parking Information
To come