COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina officially broke ground Tuesday on its new School of Medicine Columbia, a state-of-the-art facility that the schools says will serve as a cornerstone for health care education and research in South Carolina.
The 300,000-square-foot medical education and research facility is part of USC’s $300 million Health Sciences Campus, located within Columbia’s growing BullStreet District. The new medical school is expected to be completed by August 2027.
USC President Michael Amiridis said the new campus will have an impact on both students and the state’s health care system.
“This modern facility will not only provide a state-of-the-art space for education and research, but it also marks the first step in developing our comprehensive health sciences campus in the BullStreet District,” Amiridis said.
State and university leaders said the goal of the project is to enhance medical education and training while attracting top-tier faculty, researchers, and students. The new facility will include cutting-edge classrooms, medical simulation spaces, research labs, a health sciences library, and green spaces for students and faculty.
“This facility will be a bright, shining beacon for our people, ensuring South Carolinians have access to world-class medical education and care,” said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.
The medical school is one piece of USC’s broader USC Next initiative, a 10-year master plan focused on expansion and modernization. The new Health Sciences Campus is designed to support future growth in medical education and research.
Additionally, plans are in place for a neurological care hospital and a brain health center adjacent to the new medical school. These facilities will offer advanced care for brain and nervous system illnesses and feature the latest technology, including high-powered MRI scanners.
“This new facility will expand our ability to train much-needed physician assistants, nurse anesthetists, genetic counselors, and rehabilitation specialists,” said Dr. Marlene Wilson, chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience at USC.