Clemson trustees OK construction plans

Approved projects include a $98.4 million student housing and dining center, $15 million in renovations to Lehotsky Hall and $8 million in renovations to the John B. Pitner Center at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence.

Staff Report
Published Oct. 22, 2012

Clemson University trustees on Friday approved concept plans for several large construction projects.

The university also reported Friday that research funding increased 4% in its last fiscal year.

Approved construction and renovation projects, which are part of the university’s Roadmap 2020 plan, include:

The concept stage of a 260,000-square-foot core campus construction project for new student housing and dining facilities. The total project includes approximately 700 beds, dining facilities, a convenience store, offices, and shared seminar and meeting space for faculty and students. The new construction will be adjacent to Johnstone Residence Hall, Harcombe Dining Hall and the University Union, most of which will be demolished by 2020. Construction is set to begin in 2014. The total project cost is estimated to be $98.4 million.
The concept stage of renovations to Lehotsky Hall, a 32-year-old academic building. Renovations will include a new HVAC system, structural reinforcements, an automated sprinkler system, electrical and plumbing improvements, building envelope upgrades and other features. The total project cost is expected to be $15 million.
The concept stage of renovations to the John B. Pitner Center at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence. This center houses the advanced plant-technology program, which provides research for an agriculture-based biotechnology industry in South Carolina. This project involves renovated laboratory space and upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The total project cost is estimated to be $8 million.

In an earlier meeting of the trustees’ research and economic development committee, Clemson Vice President for Research Gerald Sonnenfeld announced that new grant awards for research to Clemson totaled more than $99 million in 2011-2012, an increase of nearly $4 million from the previous year. The federal government funds 88% of these awards, the university said.