Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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University of South Carolina Campus 'I Brad Walters Reprinted from The Gamecock USC's Facilities jMaster Plan for campus j_ i -i ? i:-_. development is oecoming more ui a ieauiy every day. Charles Jeffcoat, USC's director of facilities management, said the plan was originally drawn up with some broad objectives in mind. "One is to better centralize the academic functions of the university to the campus core," Jeffcoat said. "Another is to create a better living and learning envi ronment tor the students and faculty, including the development of green space." Jeffcoat said the Master Plan has been carried out aggressively since its beginnings in 1993. Although the plan has been fine-tuned and altered somewhat since then, the basic goals have remained the same. "The Master Plan is a dynamic planning tool, not a static one," he said. "You have to be flexible enough to make adjustments when programs or funding requires it." HOUSING One of the most important parts of the Master Plan, according to Jeffcoat, has been the building of new residence halls and the renovation of old ones to meet modern standards. The plan calls for demolition of some 1 1V-JJL CELEBRATING' Mon.-Fri. Sat. Sun. Master Pis of the oldest campus dormitories, as well. Two residence halls in the Towers complex, Baker and Burney, were demolished in 1996. The other four Towers (Douglas, LaBorde, Moore and Snowden) won't be coming down in the near future, though. "The Master Plan recommended the J ? _ C ^1? T* ? ueinoiiuon or tne juwcis, jcucuai miu. "Unfortunately, we can't justify taking them down because of the revenue that they produce, so they will be with us for several more years." McBryde Quadrangle faces a similar situation. Jeffcoat said the quad's demolition as scheduled in the Master Plan won't happen in the foreseeable future. "Housing has pretty much built out everything it can afford to do, currently," Jeffcoat said. In fall 1997, a $5 million renovation ofMaxcy College, along with the $20 million construction of South Quadrangle apartments, was completed. Preston was completely redesigned in 1995. The architecture of the South and East quadrangles, along with the National Advocacy Center completed in 1998, has followed a more traditional design pattern. This design, Jeffcoat said, is modeled after the successful design of the Horseshoe. "We had a goal of returning to the architectural heritage of the older campus, and I think we've been successful in projects that will allow it," Jeffcoat said. rHE WONDERS OF N/ 11-6 613 Harde iri? tAt 10-6 ,roiU(Next to Grouc 1?5 Free Parking i. DISCOVER CAROLINA in' moving ACADEMIC SPACE With the renovation of Flinn Hall in 1997, two academic departments that had been located in inconvenient and often inadequately-spaced areas were consolidated into one building. leffcoat said. The O'" Flinn renovation is a hint of the many academic renovations and relocations that have been planned. The College of Journalism and Mass Communications will eventually move to Petigru College at the end of its renovation, and the department of sociology is moving into Sloan College. These moves will happen as early as two to three years from now. This fall, the department of art will move into McMaster College, which is being renovated. "That frees up some of the older buildings on Gibbes Green," Jeffcoat said. "Each of those will be renovated to accommorlatp arsHpmir nrncrrams." One of the changes that's already underway is the $30 million Graduate Science Research Center construction on Devine Street between Sumter and Main streets. Among its many features will be lab stations that team one faculty member with four students. The GSRC will be completed by this fall. GREEN SPACE A theme of the university's Master Plan is to turn central campus parking lots I Circ R|i! tot Mi I hti 11 >fc I VTURE n St. " mm I toward co into green space. At least one central park- F ing lot will be gone by this time next year. The Preston Quadrangle project, one j of the university's most immediate prior ities, will create a large park-like space be- a tween Preston and the south side of the ? Horseshoe. Two science annexes and an energy plant, both directly behind Pre- n ston, are targeted for demolition. A staff- h reserved parking lot behind Preston will )l be eliminated, as well. h The university also plans to add a large 1< area of green space where the two park- o ing lots are in front of Thomas Cooper 1< Library. "The project, even though everyone y hates to see the parking go away, will vast- ji ly improve that part of campus," Jeffcoat s said. c raruicr away iiuui uic caiupua ujic, engineers are surveying the Rocky Run t Creek, which cuts through the south area of campus behind Blatt P.E. Center. The university wants to create jogging and bicycle trails along the creek, which runs from Martin Luther King Jr. park T. in Five Points to the Congaree River near the Olympia Village neighborhood. Jeffcoat said "there's a real ambition for several groups" to implement the pro- 11 ject, and "If all these groups come together and the funding can be found, I think you'll ^ see a very nice amenity one day that flows t through campus." c r t 8l\ a tlFJi :le K International he University of Si tp://www.circlek.< Hi lli wpjl For more information about 19^ largest collegiate service org; sSfGgw Rebecca at (803) 796-2642 c JESj&ffi* USCCircleK@aol.com. Page 47 mpletior ARKING With the addition of green space; le campus core, stuuems wuuy uiai ui Iready troublesome parking situation coul et worse. Not to fear, Jeffcoat said. The lo ear Thomas Cooper Library are hei 3 stay until the university feels it ca istify their elimination. The university lvestigating the amount of/evenue the; its produce, how often the lots are full ccupied, and where parking can be r< xated. "There's funding set aside to do th; rork, but we're not going to proceed wit : until we're comfortable that we have olution for displacing the parking, "Jef oat said. The university is trying to acquii L/-* DnllC/M,fk k>-il/linn- fkfoa klnrlrc nnrl lit IJUIvJUUUI UUIiUlIIg, uutt U1UV.RJ 1IVK if campus on Pickens Street. "The acquisition will include a st ere site that is already paved ai J desij tated as parking," Jeffcoat said. "So, v !o think a portion of that site will becon emote perimeter parking, and there wi ie shuttle service all day long on a 1! ninute basis." Extra parking near the new Fitness ar Vellness Center will be developed, ar he university is in negotiations with tl ity of Columbia to lease daytime parlar iear the Capital City Bombers stadium c Assembly Street. welcomes yoi outh Carolina! * ?-. -n 3rg/club/USC w' the world's MMII anization, call YX?)9J >r e-mail us at