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Fountain at Thomas Cooper library

USC NextColumbia Campus Master Plan

The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees has approved USC Next,
a 10-year master plan of proposed improvements and capital projects designed to meet the needs of USC Columbia students, faculty and staff through 2034. 

The plan accommodates future student body growth, maximizes underutilized campus core facilities, and invigorates existing teaching and research facilities, student housing and more. Projects will be addressed and approved individually as university officials identify priorities, establish financing and pursue partnerships. 

Key Goals

USC Next, approved on Fri., Aug. 23, 2024, is the first update to the university’s master plan since 2018. Planned and proposed projects based on four strategic goals.


 

 

 

USC Next honors the university’s rich history while presenting new opportunities to better serve our community in the future.

Michael Amiridis, President

Reinvigorate historic campus core

Redevelop the circa-1955 McBryde residence hall and build a new wing in the Honors College. Explore conversion of the Rutledge Building into undergraduate residences. Restore and repurpose seven historic homes previously used as university offices. Address areas where flooding occurs.

rendering of renovations to USC Historic Campus Core

Improve student life experience

Expand student dining, study, wellness, lounge, collaboration and outdoor recreational spaces. Add additional parking and transportation. Complete comprehensive accessibility assessment and improve key campus connectors. Update humidity-limiting climate control in Thomas Cooper Library. Enhance revenue-driving athletic venues and environments.

renderings of proposed student experience expansion at USC around McBryde and Thomas Cooper Library

Reimagine our research footprint

Enhance USC’s research capacity by upfitting existing space in the engineering district and beyond while constructing new cutting-edge research facilities. Initial work includes a renovation and upfit of three floors of the Science and Technology building’s East Tower creating state-of-the-art classroom, lab and study space.

rendering of proposed STEM research improvements along Main Street at USC

Realize new health sciences campus

Construct 308,000-square-foot School of Medicine and research building, the hub of a new health sciences campus featuring up to four additional buildings on the 16-acre BullStreet district site.

Rendering of future Health Sciences campus at USC

USC Next is a roadmap to ensure current and future campus development is strategic, integrated and consistent with what a world-class research university should be.

Thad Westbrook, Chair, USC Board of Trustees

Email us to learn more about USC Next, the university's 10-year plan to optimize the USC Columbia campus to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty and staff.

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