New SC State academic building's foundation underway
The $54.7 million building is among several construction projects expected to transform the SC State campus by fall 2027.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A construction crew began pouring concrete for the foundation of South Carolina State University's new $54.7 million academic building on Friday, Feb. 20.
The 94,000-square-foot building will replace the Turner Hall complex, portions of which are a century old. The site is adjacent to Turner, the Student Center Plaza and Dukes Gymnasium and across Geathers Street from the Engineering and Computer Science Complex.
Crews had driven rammed aggregate piers — vertical columns that reinforce the soil beneath the structure -- in January.
Ken Davis, associate vice president for facilities management, planning and construction, said crews should start erecting steel in April.
Completion is expected in fall 2027.
Harper General Contractors is managing construction. The facility was designed by Evoke Studios, whose architects were part of the team that designed the Engineering and Computer Science Complex.
The academic building is among over $210 million worth of construction and renovation projects that are either physically underway or in design and approval stages for the main campus.
- Truth renovation: A $25 million overhaul of Sojourner Truth Hall is underway. The 14-story residence hall is receiving a new fire suppression and fire alarm system, elevator upgrades, new HVAC, paint and flooring, as well as any necessary code updates. Full occupancy is expected in fall 2027, providing room for about 400 students.
- Student Center expansion: SC State expects to break ground this semester for a $20 million expansion of the recently renovated Kirkland W. Green Student Center. The project will add 40,000 square feet of student life space, including a new cafeteria and a new bookstore. Completion is expected in fall 2027.
- New residence hall: The university also expects to occupy its new 500-bed residence hall in fall 2027. The $50 million, 110,000-square-foot facility will sit across from Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on Naylor Street. Crews are expected to break ground in April.
- New library: Planning is underway for a new 50,000-square-foot library adjacent to Leroy Davis Hall and Brooks Health Center. The $30 million project will replace the Miller F. Whittaker Library. SC State hopes to break ground this fall.
- Nance Hall renovation: This summer, SC State plans to take M. Maceo Nance Hall offline to initiate a $15 million renovation. The building will house the College of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences. Construction is expected to begin in August with occupancy in fall 2027.
- New transportation center: With $13 million in federal funds and a $2.6 million state match, SC State expects
to start construction this year on the University Transportation Center, which will
support transportation-oriented research, meetings, training, seminars, large lectures,
and conferences.
Other projects on tap:
- New ROTC building: Federal funds have been identified for a new ROTC academic training complex. Planning is underway for a $19 million project. The 47,000-square-foot building will include classrooms, training rooms, a pool, multi-purpose and administrative spaces for education and academic research for ROTC cadets.
- New convocation center: The state has provided $5 million in planning money for the construction of a new convocation center to replace the 58-year-old Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. SC State President Alexander Conyers recently asked the General Assembly to fund $60 million for the facility’s construction.