Renovations are set to begin on Harper College in spring 2027, updating the historic building for the next generations of South Carolina Honors College students, faculty and staff.
Constructed in 1848 on the historic Horseshoe, Harper College is the architectural twin of Legare College. The third floor was the meeting site of the Euphradian Literary Society, a collegiate debate organization. Founded in 1806, the Euphradian Literary Society was one of the first two student clubs established at what was then called South Carolina College. The building is named after the Society’s first president, William Harper (class of 1808).
The South Carolina Honors College moved into the building’s central administrative space in 1983. In the years that followed, Harper’s third floor has been abuzz with different kinds of activity. From Honors College information sessions for prospective students and supporters, to summer orientation for incoming first-years, to faculty, staff and donor luncheons, Harper has opened its doors to thousands of Gamecocks.
Dean of the Honors College, Steven Lynn, says that the renovations will update some of the building's most pressing maintenance issues, such as an aging HVAC system that is so old that replacement parts must be fabricated. Lynn is also eager to reorganize the building's layout and create gathering spaces on the first floor. "We're hoping that all our students, as they migrate back and forth across campus, will stop in and take advantage of this space," he says. "It'll be a good space for us to engage with students."
Chappell Wilson, Honors College assistant dean of administration, attended the SCHC in the 1990s and remembers numerous "little fixes" implemented over the years: film projector rooms converted to offices, classrooms divided for new uses, presentation screens added to the room in which the Euprhadian Society once met. These changes created temporary solutions, but the upcoming renovation anticipates the needs of future generations of Honors students. "We appreciate the support of the state legislature, through a specific allocation to upgrade this building, because the infrastructure is no longer sustainable and habitable," Wilson says.
Lynn and Wilson have been part of a committee that meets with university architect Derek Gruner to communicate the needs of students and suggestions from Honors staff members throughout the renovation planning process. Through their meetings, the plan for Harper began to take shape: new storage spaces on the first floor for Honors student organizations, updated flooring and fixtures throughout the building, a reception area to welcome visitors to the hub of one of the nation's premier public honors colleges. "Gruner definitely has that vision and that requirement that it is suitable for modern needs, but certainly with a design focused on what would be in keeping with the historic building," says Wilson.
These renovations will help to ensure that, even at 178 years old, Harper College can still make a strong, positive impression on modern visitors. "We can't be complacent," adds Lynn. "We really believe we're the best honors college in the country. But other honors colleges are recruiting the same students, and every aspect of the student experience is important, so having the best possible space for our staff and for students to enjoy is important."
One such student is Swarnim Maid, a sophomore international business major and Honors College Ambassador. She recalls that attending an information session on Harper's third floor made her feel like "I was about to become part of a legacy." While the room's historic fixtures grounded the presentation in a sense of prestige, she felt welcomed and encouraged by what she heard from the student ambassadors, who highlighted a supportive and innovative environment.
Now she's someone who speaks to prospective students and supporters at Honors College Information Sessions. "Standing at the podium with the Honors College emblem behind me and realizing I am now on the other side of the experience has been such a cool full-circle moment," she reflects. "I try to set a welcoming and genuine tone by showing students that, while the Honors College has a strong reputation and legacy, it is also a place where they can find community, pursue new opportunities and truly see themselves."
Though the information sessions have been relocated during renovations, Maid looks forward to returning to Harper and experiencing the grandeur of historic architecture and comfort of modern air conditioning.
Renovations are expected to be completed in the winter of 2027. Dean Lynn acknowledges that navigating the renovations can be "an aggravation" for students in the meantime, but he is optimistic that patience will be rewarded.
"This is part of our constant striving to improve," he says.