Campus and Community Celebrate the Opening of USC Village

USC VillageSix buildings were constructed in three years, employing more than 5,600 workers, many from the local community.

USC developed and fully funded the project, which came in on time and under budget through the use of innovative technology to speed construction. The building facades were created offsite from more than 2,500 precast panels weighing 9,000 pounds.

USC Village is destined to become a new center of campus. Its Central Piazza is akin to the famous Hahn Plaza with the iconic Tommy Trojan statue. The red bricks of USC Village honor the University Park Campus's architectural traditions and are reflective of Bovard Auditorium, a cherished cultural monument built in 1921 at the center of campus.

USC Village will offer 103,000 square feet of handpicked retail, including a number of Southern California-based restaurants and services, anchored by a Target and Trader Joe’s. During a series of town halls for USC Village, community members specifically asked for Trader Joe’s to come to the neighborhood.

In addition to providing $20 million toward affordable housing and $20 million in street improvements, USC also saved and relocated iconic Fire Station 15 and built a new state-of-the-art fire station as part of the project.

The project supported more than 5,600 construction jobs and focused on community hires through a partnership with the city of Los Angeles and local unions. USC Village features parking for more than 1,500 bikes and is a short distance from the Expo Line.

Learning extends beyond the classroom for the more than 2,500 students who will live in one of eight residential colleges at USC Village. USC Village seeks to transform the traditional notion of college life with a design that encourages interaction.

Eighty residential life lounges are outfitted to make study time a destination and encourage young minds to collaborate and create solutions.

Featured

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • Texas District Breaks Ground on Second High School

    The Waller Independent School District in Waller, Texas, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for what will become its second high school, according to a news release.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.