Integrating and preserving a historically rich campus with the urban context

University of South Carolina Campus Plan 2034

Aerial rendering of the University of South Carolina master plan, with green spaces, orange river-to-campus connections, and red proposed buildings among existing white structures.

业主: University of South Carolina
位置: Columbia, SC
规模: 450 acres

专业领域: 规划与城市设计
现况: Completed 2024

Building on Sasaki’s 30 year collaboration with the University of South Carolina (USC), Campus Plan 2034 advances longstanding goals set out in the Bicentennial Master Plan of 1994. These include integrating the campus with the City of Columbia, linking to the Congaree River, and preserving the Horseshoe, the historic core of campus.

In support of the University’s mission “to promote the dissemination of knowledge, cultural enrichment, and an enhanced quality of life”, the plan provides guidance for improving the campus experience by designating new areas for student engagement coupled with improvements to the public realm of both the campus and context.

Site plan of existing conditions at the University of South Carolina campus, showing the river to the left and green open spaces among existing white buildings.

Existing Plan

Site plan of the proposed University of South Carolina master plan, with green open space and red new buildings among existing white structures.

Proposed Plan integrates the campus with the city and links to the river

History of Planning at University of South Carolina

The 1994 Bicentennial Plan, and subsequent updates developed in collaboration with Sasaki in 2003, 2010, 2018 and 2024, provide the foundation for the 2034 vision. District plans, also created with Sasaki, for the Innovista District (2006) and the South Main Capital District Plan (2017) further contribute to the vision.

Integrating Ideas for Campus Plan 2034

The comprehensive planning process began with a review of changes to the institution and the physical environment since the completion of the 2018 Plan. These changes included enrollment growth, evolving pedagogical approaches, emerging research focus areas, and student, staff and faculty needs.

Findings from stakeholder interviews and MyCampus–Sasaki’s online engagement tool– inform the drivers of the plan update: honoring USC’s mission and vision, establishing a sense of place within the City of Columbia, accommodating enrollment growth, enriching the academic and student experience, supporting research excellence, and physically strengthening the connection of the campus with the City and the Congaree River.

In response to the planning drivers, the following “Big Ideas” structure the Campus Plan 2034:

Set of eight diagrams on a shared campus map illustrating the University of South Carolina master plan strategies: activating the historic core, evaluating academic and student life needs, reaching for research excellence, empowering partnerships, implementing active improvements, improving mobility networks, connecting to the river, and enhancing key connectors.

The eight big ideas integrate programmatic needs and strategic initiatives with the physical context of the campus and the City.

Integrated Campus Frameworks

A series of Framework Plans structure the campus environment by providing integrated and coordinated strategies for improvement and change and are intertwined with the delimitation of key campus districts that anchor the unique experiences for students, faculty and visitors.

1. Academic and Research Framework

Proposed renovation and new construction projects support the academic and research mission, enrollment growth and evolving pedagogical approaches.

Aerial rendering of the University of South Carolina master plan, highlighting research buildings in teal, partial-research buildings in striped blue, proposed academic/research buildings in dark blue, and a proposed parking garage in grey, with existing structures in white.

Existing and Proposed Research and Academic Facilities

2. Campus Life Framework

A network of amenities, including study and student engagement environments, housing communities, dining and food service locations, and recreational facilities enhance the campus experience.

Aerial rendering of the University of South Carolina master plan, highlighting student life, housing, and sports facilities by status and color: existing in light pink, light yellow, and light green; renovated in striped pink, yellow, and green; and proposed in magenta, mustard, and green, with other existing structures in white.

Existing and Proposed Campus Life Facilities

3. Open Space and Landscape Framework

Open space improvements and enhancements to major circulation corridors contribute to the experience and quality of the campus.

Aerial rendering of the University of South Carolina master plan highlighting circulation and open space: existing buildings in white, proposed new buildings in light pink, pedestrian corridors in orange, and street improvements in dark green. Rocky Branch Creek is shown with illustrative trees and arrows indicating access and views into the creek, while arrows along the river indicate view corridors and green arrows show direct connections to campus.

Existing and Proposed Open Space and Landscape

Ground-level rendering of a tree-lined plaza with a central reflecting pool and fountain, brick paving, accessible ramps, and pedestrians including a wheelchair user, leading toward the library entrance.

View of the proposed Thomas Cooper Library Plaza

4. Mobility Framework

Circulation across multiple modes – walking, biking, and driving, are coordinated while enhancing the user experience. Campus accessibility improvements focus on building renovations and campus pathways.

Aerial rendering of the University of South Carolina master plan showing campus access in the context of the city and river: existing buildings in white, proposed new buildings in light pink, existing garages in grey, pedestrian corridors in orange, vehicular connectors in dark blue, and gateways marked with bright orange circles. Arrows of varying thickness indicate traffic flow, from thin lines for light traffic to thick lines for heavy traffic.

Existing and Proposed Open Space and Landscape network

Ground-level rendering of a wide, tree-lined street reimagined as a pedestrian-friendly gateway, with paving, cyclists, pedestrians of varying abilities, a shuttle bus, and mixed-use buildings framing the corridor.

Sumter Street is reimagined as a gateway to the campus and the Horseshoe.

Campus Districts

District Plans

The Campus District plans define the development, public realm, landscape and mobility recommendations for each area of the campus.

Aerial rendering zoomed into the Horseshoe district of the University of South Carolina master plan, with the surrounding campus washed out to emphasize the district. Open green space connects existing and proposed buildings from east to west, linked by pedestrian and bike pathways.

Activation of the historic Horseshoe District is a key focus on the plan. Recommendations include new student-centered spaces and destinations in McKissack Hall and other academic buildings.