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

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.

  • Fargo, N.D., Starts Construction on Consolidated Elementary School

    Fargo Public Schools in Fargo, N.D., recently announced the beginning of construction on a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with ICON Architectural Group and Kraus-Anderson Construction on the new Horace Mann Elementary School.

  • 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.