or recently completed on campus as of the 2019–2020 academic year. A new academic building, Myron Boon Hall, constructed on the site formerly occupied by Carson Hall, was completed in May 2018. Lord Aeck Sargent was the prime architect and lead designer of the building. PFA Architects, of Asheville, was the associate architect and collaborated with Lord Aeck Sargent in all phases. H&M Constructors led the building's construction effort. The building is LEED Gold Certified. It has six classrooms of varying sizes, and larger meeting spaces similar in size to the existing Canon Lounge in Gladfelter, to offer more spaces for large community events. The college's pool has been closed since 2014, when repairs to structural beams were deemed too expensive. Demolition and construction of a new pool structure began in 2017. Buncombe County contributed $300,000 to the project, with the understanding that local swim teams would also be able to use the pool. Construction encountered major setbacks. Although originally planned to be completed for the 2017–18 swim season, work on the internal aspects of the pool were still underway as of July 2019. The exterior was mostly completed by then and remains inaccessible since 2022. Notable alumni Emil Amos, musician, member of Grails Sara Benincasa, comedian Bianca Canizio, United States Virgin Islands women's international soccer player Reginald Dwayne Betts, poet, teacher, lawyer. Awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2021. Tony Earley, writer James Franco, actor, poet (MFA) Rayna Gellert, fiddler Lee Meitzen Grue, poet and educator A. Van Jordan, poet (MFA) Vyvyane Loh, writer, choreographer, physician (MFA) Grace Dane Mazur, author Heather McElhatton, public radio producer, writer (MFA) Lewis Pullman, actor and son of Bill Pullman Katie Spotz, youngest Atlantic solo rower Duncan Trussell, comedian David Weber, writer Joe Wenderoth, poet Billy Edd Wheeler, singer/songwriter David Wilcox, folk musician Fran Wilde, writer (MFA) References External links Official athletics website Private universities and colleges in North Carolina Liberal arts colleges in North Carolina Education in Buncombe County, North Carolina Educational institutions established in 1894 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Universities and colleges affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) Buildings and structures in Buncombe County, North Carolina USCAA member institutions Work colleges 1894 establishments in North Carolina