S.C. State University breaks ground on new academic building
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - A historic building is getting a major rebuild at South Carolina State University.
The more than $54 million project will replace Turner Hall.
S.C. State staff, students and alumni ― along with lawmakers of the General Assembly ― considered this historic groundbreaking as a new season.
The university broke ground Friday for Turner Hall, which has been an academic building for the campus since 1929.
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Charles Smalls, a 1959 S.C. State alum, shared his memories from the first groundbreaking of the old Turner Hall.
“Just to be a witness of it, as we can tell our grandchildren, some of the magnificent time we’ve had here in Turner Hall,” Smalls said. “It’s a great day to be here.”
The project was made possible by a $54.7 million investment coming from the General Assembly. The building will replace the old Turner Hall wings, which are nearly a century old.
The estimated size for the new building is 94,000 square feet, which will include classrooms, an auditorium, office spaces, conference rooms, student collaborative areas and much more.
Paul Martin II, a graduating senior civil engineering technology student, said this new project will make Turner Hall more accessible to everyone.
“A lot of people only have accessibility to the first floor, if they have some sort of disability, or if they are older,” he said. “There’s only one elevator, and that elevator goes from the first to the third floor, but it’s only on one side of the building. I feel like with this new invention, or this new groundbreaking, it can bring a lot of modern changes in a lot of things that will cater more towards people with disabilities and special needs, as well as our older alumni and the students.”
The rebuild of Turner Hall has been a desperate need for students and faculty at S.C. State.
S.C. State President Alexander Conyers said the project was worth the wait.
“This day is monumental for students past and present as well as future — same with alumni. This is a great in our history to have a fully funded new academic building that will be soon begin construction on,” he said.
The project is currently in the design phase before heading into construction. S.C. State officials expect the project to be completed between 18 months to two years.
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