{"id":2133,"date":"2026-06-26T10:10:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2133"},"modified":"2026-06-26T10:10:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:10:35","slug":"the-living-room-of-campus-is-about-to-change-usc-oks-makeover-of-student-union-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2133","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018living room of campus\u2019 is about to change: USC OKs makeover of student union"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>A long-discussed reimagining of the University of South Carolina\u2019s beloved, but overstretched student union is beginning to take shape after the board of trustees last week voted to move forward with plans to expand and renovate the Russell House.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2132\">\u2018Wild west\u2019 for THC drinks, edibles stays as hemp regulation deal collapses in SC<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>While nothing is set in stone, the current plan calls for replacing the building\u2019s aging west wing and the nearby Thomson Building, located across from the Bull Street parking garage, to create a larger ballroom, more space for student organizations and additional dining capacity in what is currently one of the smallest student unions in the Southeastern Conference.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The multiphase project would also address internal maintenance needs in the oldest sections of the 72-year-old Russell House, functionally and architecturally modernize the building and make traversing its sometimes incoherent layout more convenient for students.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>A number of key retail services currently located in the student union, including the bookstore, hair salon, post office, print shop, credit union and retail dining, may also be relocated to South Main Street, where the university owns property it is in the process of developing.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Exporting those services would have the effect of revitalizing Main Street while simultaneously creating space in the Russell House that could be devoted to recreation areas and student organization meeting space, university architect Derek Gruner said in an interview with The State Media Co.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s really a win-win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The entire project, which is estimated to cost $250 million, could take up to five years to complete.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>It will be funded by state institution bonds, which are secured by a pledge of tuition fee revenues. To finance the bonds, the USC board recently approved a $150 per semester student union expansion fee, as part of its 2026-27 budget.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Because the bustling student union, located along Greene Street in the heart of campus, will need to remain open throughout the process, the project is expected to be one of the more logistically difficult construction jobs the university has undertaken.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur challenge is that we still have to feed the students at the Russell House,\u201d Gruner said. \u201cThere are still meetings and ballroom events and things like that that have to happen all during the construction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The anticipated logistical headache is a small price to pay for movement on a project that both students and university officials have long viewed as a top priority.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Rex Tolliver, USC\u2019s vice president of student affairs, said the Russell House expansion and renovation has been on the minds of students for as long as he\u2019s been at the university.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2130\">Elena Moore autopsy reveals no signs of trauma. Here\u2019s what to know<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince I\u2019ve been here for the last four years, all of our student body presidents have worked with various segments of students through their administration to get feedback and provide that to us as we begin to try to plan out what this is for students,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Russell House, the student center, in many cases, is described as the living room of campus, because it is where all students have to come in at some point or another for some engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Student feedback on the Russell House has been consistent, Tolliver said. They want more space to eat, meet and hold functions.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>He said that because the number of gathering spots on campus hasn\u2019t kept pace with the explosion in enrollment, students needing to meet often must procure space off campus, and pay extra to do so.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>A reconfigured Russell House would save students money and keep them from having to navigate public transit to off-campus locations, he said.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Student Body President Cole Rotondo said in a statement that the Russell House expansion marked a \u201cnew era\u201d for student life at USC.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis project will provide an improved space where students can learn, lead, connect and create the memories that define the Gamecock experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>With the USC board\u2019s recent approval of the project for Phase I design, the Russell House expansion and renovation moves into the first stage of architectural planning.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Normally a six-to-eight-month process, Gruner said he thought it could take up to a year to determine how best to expend the allocated funds and get a clearer picture of the project\u2019s cost and timeline.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Before the university can hire an architect and solidify the project\u2019s schematics and design, however, it must first get approval from the South Carolina Joint Bond Review Committee and State Fiscal Accountability Authority.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2129\">The \u2018living room of campus\u2019 is about to change: USC OKs makeover of student union<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The , Gruner said.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees last week gave authorization to move forward with plans to expand and renovate the university\u2019s student union.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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