The first phase of USC’s research campus will include more than $140 million in bricks and mortar and feature green space and pedestrian- and bike-friendly features.
Seven buildings, including two parking garages totaling 2,400 spaces, are part of the initial phase of the project. The University is seeking $58 million in state bonds for three USC-owned buildings; the remainder of its $76 million share of the project would come from existing University funds. The state Budget and Control Board will consider the proposal at their June meeting.
Two of the buildings will be privately financed at $26.2 million. The parking garages will cost $34 million. The project will emphasize research conducted by University and private industry scientists, but the master plan for the research campus features much more than laboratories. Retail, residential, and recreational space has been sketched into much of the research campus blueprint.
“I envision a community that will be attractive to everyone,” said Harris Pastides, vice president for research and health sciences. “It will be carefully developed and conducive to a healthy lifestyle, with an eye towards aesthetics and comfort for those who work there and who visit.”
Locations for the research campus buildings follow:
- Horizon Center block, bounded by Assembly, Blossom, South Main, and Wheat, will include a USC building devoted principally to “next energy” research, a private building, and a parking garage financed by the city and Richland County.
- A block bounded by Greene, Lincoln, Park, and College to include a parking garage and two buildings devoted to biomedical research, one of them privately financed.
- A block bounded by Assembly, College, Park, and Pendleton to include a laboratory building (under construction now) for the Arnold School of Public Health and a new office building for the school. Carolina Plaza will be removed.
While the purpose of the research campus is to broadly promote economic development in the state, construction of the campus itself will drive the Columbia economy. An estimated 912 construction jobs will be created with a combined payroll of $41 million, spawning 1,185 additional private sector jobs with $94.3 million in additional economic impact from construction activity and related job creation.
The completed campus will generate more than 1,900 jobs in the five buildings with an additional annual payroll of $129 million; an average salary of about $66,000 per job. More than 6,500 jobs could be created or supported by the programs in the buildings with an additional annual financial impact of $232 million.
In addition, construction of the campus could contribute more than $5.8 million in S.C. income taxes and more than $2.6 million in S.C. sales taxes. Recurring taxes during building operations could generate more than $9.2 million in annual S.C. income taxes and more than $6.7 million in annual S.C. sales taxes.
5/05
|
