A campus in motion: S.C. State’s $330M investment takes shape

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State University’s main campus is becoming a construction zone with a long-term purpose: more room for students, updated places to learn and gather, and expanded facilities for research and public service.

The university’s approximately $330 million investment in capital improvements spans its Orangeburg campus and Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) sites around South Carolina. Supported by state, federal and university funding, the program includes academic buildings, student housing, campus facilities and research infrastructure.

The work advances priorities in The Garnet and Blueprint 2030, SC State’s strategic plan, including expanding residential capacity, modernizing learning environments and strengthening facilities for instruction, research and student engagement.

Several of the most visible projects are moving toward 2027 occupancy: a new 500-bed residence hall, a major addition to the student center, a new academic building and renovations to Sojourner Truth Hall. A new library and Honors College facility also moved from planning to construction with an October groundbreaking.

New residence hall planned for fall 2027

At Benjamin E. Mays Hall, crews are building a $50 million residence hall designed for approximately 500 students. Freshmen will receive housing priority when the building opens.

The approximately 100,000-square-foot facility is rising near Mitchell Hall and Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Its planned amenities include three study areas on each floor, laundry facilities on every floor, and a lobby with a common kitchen and gathering space. Amazon package lockers and electronic access controls at the entrance and individual rooms are also part of the design.

Construction has advanced from concrete wall panels to steel and interior framing. Crews completed tilt-up concrete wall panels in one section; steel erection began Sept. 24, followed by interior wall construction Oct. 26. Occupancy is scheduled for July 2027, ahead of the fall semester.

Bulldog Commons expands student life

The $20 million Bulldog Commons project will add approximately 44,000 square feet to the Kirkland W. Green Student Center. Combined, the existing center and its addition will total about 78,000 square feet.

The expansion is designed to bring more dining, recreation and student services together. Plans include expanded dining options, a bookstore, a Career Center, esports facilities, a sports café, a second-floor café and patio, and collaboration spaces.

Foundations and the elevator shaft enclosure are complete. Steel work began Oct. 12, and the dining hall portion of the steel structure and its concrete pour have been completed. The project is targeting occupancy in July 2027, following a $4.4 million renovation of the existing student center.

A new home for academic programs

A new $54.7 million academic building is taking shape on the site of Turner Hall, which it will replace. The approximately 90,000-square-foot facility is planned to house general education instruction and programs in the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.

The design calls for classrooms, offices, a café and a mock courtroom. Exterior wall construction began Sept. 15, and underground electrical work was approximately 90% complete in the latest project update. Occupancy is scheduled for October 2027.

Evoke Studio Architecture is designing the academic building, as well as the new library, with Thompson Turner Construction serving as construction firm on both projects.

Library and Honors College move into construction

SC State broke ground in October on a $30 million library facility at the former site of Bradham and Manning Halls. It will replace the Miller F. Whittaker Library. Initial utility work began at the site that month; an occupancy date has not been established.

Plans include reading rooms, meeting and conference spaces, archives, a computer laboratory, an atrium, a café and an exhibition area. The facility will also house dedicated space for the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, including a commons, offices, conference space and a multipurpose room.

Renovations and planning continue

At Sojourner Truth Hall, a 384-bed residence hall, window replacements have been completed through eight floors. The renovation has a current approved budget of $25 million, and the university has requested an additional $2 million to address unforeseen construction conditions. Reopening is scheduled for April 2027.

Other projects are advancing through design, approvals and planning. The $15 million Nance Hall renovation is in design, with classes and offices beginning relocation Oct. 7. A proposed $19 million, 30,000-square-foot Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Center has received Phase I approval and authorization for an alternative project delivery method. A committee is reviewing 15 architectural and engineering proposals. Proposed features include classrooms, cadet fitness facilities, a pool, offices and meeting spaces.

The $14 million Transportation Research and Conference Center is being coordinated with the Federal Highway Administration and the South Carolina Office of State Engineer. SC State received an architectural and engineering proposal from Perkins&Will on Sept. 23 and is reviewing details before federal submission. The $8 million Public Safety Building and a $7 million campus perimeter fence are in planning.

The university has also received $7.5 million in state funding to plan a replacement for the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center and is seeking another $60 million from the state for construction. McMillan Pazdan Smith has been selected to provide architectural and engineering services, and the university is reviewing the firm’s Phase I proposal.

Investment reaches PSA sites statewide

The capital program extends beyond Orangeburg. SC State’s PSA projects have combined approved budgets of approximately $49.8 million and are intended to support agricultural research, education and outreach.

In Cayce, the $14.57 million Midlands Region 1890 Research and Extension Center has reached a milestone: the U.S. Department of Agriculture has leased and occupied office space completed in the first phase. The second phase is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with completion anticipated April 1, 2027.

At Camp Harry E. Daniels in Elloree, a $23.68 million redevelopment includes a limnology research center focused on freshwater science, aquatic ecosystems and environmental stewardship. Plans also include cabins for 4-H and youth residential and day camps, alongside facilities for research, demonstrations and community outreach. Completion is expected in summer 2028.

Work began in June 2026 on an $11.56 million project at the Research and Demonstration Farm in Olar, in Bamberg County. Completion is expected in August 2027. The PSA division has also recently completed 1890 Research and Extension Centers serving the Upstate Region in Anderson, the Pee Dee Region in Florence and the Catawba Region in Rock Hill.

As construction continues, the anticipated 2027 openings of Benjamin E. Mays Hall, Bulldog Commons, the renovated Sojourner Truth Hall and the new academic building will bring a significant wave of new and renewed space to campus. Alongside the library, Honors College and statewide PSA projects, the investment is intended to strengthen SC State’s academic environment, student experience and capacity for long-term enrollment growth.