The $15 million, 105,000-square-foot residence hall under construction at USC Spartanburg was officially "topped out" recently, marking a significant milestone in the construction process.
A crane lifted the roof truss of the living/learning tower, the highest point of the building, as nearly 100 USC Spartanburg officials and employees, architects, engineers, and construction crew members looked on from below. John Stockwell, chancellor of USC Spartanburg, invited people at the ceremony to sign their names on two beams that will be used to construct the tower.
The residence hall will open in January 2004 and will house 350 freshmen students. The new building will facilitate growth on the campus, contribute to the sense of campus community, and provide students with a rich living and learning environment.
The USC Board of Trustees approved the project using an “off balance sheet” method. The Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education granted approval for new use of the existing property. A unique bond-financing venture backed by Bank of America partnering with the Carolina Piedmont Foundation funded the $15 million project. The financing is the first of its kind for USC campuses and among the first in the state.
08/03
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USC Spartanburg's new residence hall is topped out, above; an overhead view of the building, scheduled for completion in January 2004, below.
