USC Selects Developer for $300M Health Sciences Campus

The University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., recently announced that it has selected a developer for its new health sciences campus in downtown Columbia. Gilbane will spearhead the project’s planning, design, development, and construction after approval by the university’s Board of Trustees in mid-December, according to a university news release.

The 181-acre campus’ first stage consists of two buildings, a medical education building and multidisciplinary research building, totaling 292,000 square feet. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2025 and end in 2027. Future developments are slated to include a brain center to expand the university’s McCausland Center for Brain Imaging and offer treatment options to local Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

“Gilbane has assembled a world-class design and construction team that will provide innovation and expertise to develop a health sciences campus to serve USC and the state of South Carolina for many generations into the future,” said university architect Derek Gruner.

Gilbane has announced plans to partner with numerous local businesses and is aiming for a 30-percent subcontracting participation rate for minority- and women-owned businesses.

“By expanding our capacity to educate physicians and other healthcare professionals, we will increase our impact on the health and well-being of the Palmetto State’s citizens,” said vice president for research Julius Fridriksson. “The new health sciences campus will also provide a cutting-edge settling where our faculty can unleash their drive for innovation in the health sector, discovering new lifesaving and health-promoting technologies through increased research and development.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • Phoenix High School Completes First Phase of Campus Renovations

    Metro Tech High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) in Phoenix, Ariz., recently announced the completion of the first stage of a campus renovation project, according to a news release. The school reopened a series of public-facing business operations spaces including credit union, daycare, floral, cosmetology, and culinary services. It also includes new CTE learning spaces for the school’s nursing assistant, pharmacy, and sports medicine programs.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.