Final steel beam marks major milestone for SC State's new academic building
Thursday's topping out ceremony celebrated progress on the $54.7 million project.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State University celebrated a major construction milestone Thursday as university leaders and project partners gathered for a topping out ceremony marking the placement of the final steel beam on the university's new academic building.
The ceremonial beam, signed by those attending the ceremony before being lifted into place, represents a significant step toward completion of the $54.7 million, 90,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2027.
SC State President Alexander Conyers said the project reflects the university's continued commitment to providing students and faculty with modern learning environments that support academic excellence.
"This is a sign of excellence, and I want to thank everyone involved," Conyers said. "I am so excited for our students, for our faculty and for our community.
"This puts us one step closer to having students and faculty go to work and go to class in this new academic building," he said.
The topping-out ceremony is a construction tradition that recognizes the completion of a building's structural steel framework and the progress toward the project's completion.
Conyers thanked the South Carolina General Assembly and Gov. Henry McMaster for funding
the project.
He also recognized Dr. Gerald Smalls, vice president for finance and administration
and chief financial officer, Ken Davis, associate vice president for facilities management,
and their teams for their leadership and commitment to ensuring the project is built
to the highest standards.
Construction began about seven months ago on the academic building, which will become a central hub for instruction across campus
Located adjacent to the Kirkland W. Green Student Center plaza, Turner Hall and Dukes Gymnasium, the new academic building will become a central hub for teaching, learning and student collaboration. The facility will house many of the university's general education courses, ensuring that all SC State students will take classes there during their academic careers.
The building also will serve as the home of the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and will feature modern instructional spaces designed to support collaborative and experiential learning. Planned amenities include a café, a mock courtroom and classrooms equipped with the latest instructional technology.
Harper Construction is serving as the project's general contractor. Evoke Studio Architecture designed the building, and Summit Steel erected the structural steel framework.
The new academic building will replace the aging Turner Hall complex and further strengthen SC State's ability to provide students and faculty with state-of-the-art teaching, learning and collaboration spaces for decades to come.
The project is one of several major investments transforming the main SC State campus, with more than $210 million in construction underway or in development through state and federal funding.
Other projects underway include the renovation of 384-bed Sojourner Truth Hall, construction of a new 532-bed residence hall, and the new Bulldog Commons building, an extension of the Kirkland W. Green Student Center that includes a new dining hall.
A new library is in the design phase and will replace the Miller F. Whittaker Library while also housing the university's honors college. Construction is expected to begin later this year. Also in the design phase is the long-awaited University Transportation Center.
Together, the projects represent a comprehensive transformation of the SC State campus, creating modern academic, residential and student-centered spaces that support the university's continued growth. The investments are designed to meet the evolving demands of 21st century teaching, learning and research while enhancing the student experience for generations to come.
