South Carolina State University broke ground on a new five-story, 100,000-square-foot residence hall that will house more than 500 freshmen and expand on-campus living capacity.
University officials, alumni and others gathered on campus to celebrate the new residence hall, which will sit adjacent to Mitchell Hall and Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Several members of the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Board of Trustees Chair Douglas Gantt, an SC State alumnus, reflected on how campus housing has evolved.
“In 1980 when I came here, we felt like we were special that we had a box fan in our room because we didn’t have air conditioning. I can’t imagine what these students will come and see and experience in this new dormitory,” Gantt said.
“As a member of the Board of Trustees, I can’t thank our team enough for what we were able to do to improve a lot of things that helped make this possible. We’re definitely grateful for the president and always spending day and night thinking of things to make things better here at the university,” he said.
The new freshman residence hall will not only increase the university’s housing capacity but also provide students with a more modern living and learning environment.
Funded via a bond initiative, the $50 million new residence hall will sit adjacent to SC State’s Mitchell Hall and Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Charleston, South Carolina–based Little Architects and Greenville, South Carolina–based AJAX Construction are working with the university on the new residence hall.
The five-story, 100,000-square-foot structure will accommodate more than 500
students. Amenities will include:
-
Three study areas per floor.
-
A lobby with a common kitchen and gathering space.
-
A laundry room on each floor.
-
Amazon mailboxes on the first floor.
-
Electronic access control for the building and every room.
Along with the new residence hall, the university also broke ground earlier Saturday on a $20 million student center expansion project, with both projects designed to improve student life. Already underway is a $54.7 million new academic building adjacent to the Student Center Plaza.
“We’re in the midst of about a $200 million transformation on this campus. We will soon break ground on a $30 million library, a $20 million ROTC building, a $13 million transportation center, a $10 million or so new police station, and just so many other projects,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said.
