McBryde’s rusted, barred entrance underscores the urgent need for renovation of the outdated dorm, one of several aging facilities slated for replacement under the USC Next modernization project. Photo by Abagael Strating/Carolina Reporter
Some female students at the University of South Carolina will be moving to a new residence hall mid-semester due to a large university renovation plan.
The school is undertaking a 10-year master plan to improve and modernize campus facilities, a move that will temporarily displace hundreds of students but promises new housing, academic buildings and green spaces in the years ahead.
The historic McBryde dormitory, slated for an overhaul, was built in 1955 and has housed male only students. It has been transformed for this fall into a co-ed dorm, accommodating students who will in the spring live in the Thornwell residence hall, which is now undergoing renovation.
“ I feel like the other (USC) dorms are so nice, so in comparison, it looks really bad,” said McBryde resident Caroline Dragot, a freshman.
Some girls say it’s clear why USC thinks it’s time for the dorm to go.
Female students in McBryde are expected to move out during fall break, according to Collyn Taylor, USC’s internal communications manager.
“ Two out of the four toilets, like, flush, and I’ll see a bug once a week, and my hall smells actually disgusting, but it’s OK,” said Alyssa Mchedishvili, who’s also a freshman resident at McBryde. “ … If I had to live here for a year, I would be upset.”
The weathered walls and faulty amenities are just a few signs of the dorm’s worn condition.
“Since McBryde is an older building, it has certain challenges and less amenities than residence halls built more recently,” Taylor said. “We encourage any students experiencing issues to file a maintenance request online.”
The renovations are part of USC Next, proposed in August 2024. The four phases of campus construction include reinvigorating the historic campus core, enhancing the student life experience, reimagining the research footprint and establishing a new health sciences campus.
The project has a completion date set for July 2028 and has an estimated construction cost of $165 million, according to the City of Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals.
USC is struggling to accommodate an increasingly larger freshman class each year as well as update its facilities.
“USC Next honors the university’s rich history while presenting new opportunities to better serve our community in the future,” USC President Michael Amiridis said during a board of trustees meeting before construction began.
McBryde is currently the least expensive dorm on campus. Students will pay the same price for Thornwell as McBryde when they move to the renovated Thornwell in the spring.
McBryde will be transformed into a modern residential hall with 900 beds, compared to its current 260 beds, according to the USC Next plan.
McBryde student housing as it looked circa 1955. Photo courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina
Present-day McBryde student housing as it appears before renovations begin. Photo by Morgan Kozak/Carolina Reporter
Peeling paint and dusty window frames line the exterior of the McBryde dormitory, which is slated for demolition as part of the University of South Carolina’s 10-year master plan. Photo by Abagael Strating/Carolina Reporter
Outdated furniture in the common spaces gives students a blast from the past. Photo by Abagael Strating/Carolina Reporter
The low-lit halls of McBryde dorm, sector F, are where girls are living this semester. Photo by Abagael Strating/Carolina Reporter
ABOUT THE JOURNALISTS
Morgan Kozak
Morgan Kozak is a senior at the University of South Carolina, where she is majoring in journalism with a minor in creative writing. With a strong passion for storytelling, she aspires to build a career in publishing, combining her writing skills and creative insight to make a meaningful impact in the industry.
Abagael Strating
Abagael Strating is a senior at the University of South Carolina, majoring in journalism. She spent the previous summer as an intern for Fox Carolina where she got to go into the field and do reporting.
