University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine at the Health Sciences Campus
Leveraging private-public partnership (P3) delivery to develop a modern, state-of-the-art School of Medicine
USC selected the vertically integrated Gilbane team to lead the planning, design, development, and construction of the University’s new School of Medicine, part of the Health Sciences Campus, to accommodate the continued growth. The team is developing a master plan for the site that embraces the adjacent park. They have also begun programming of two complementary buildings, an education building, and an interdisciplinary research building, both focused on collaboration, robust technology, and interprofessional opportunities to expand the capacity of USC’s health sciences programs.
The University of South Carolina’s Medical School has been operating for almost 50 years on the William Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus. The School of Medicine is currently leasing its location, which will expire in 2030. The University is also encountering growth. USC needed to develop modern, state-of-the-art health sciences facilities closer to its main campus and clinical partners in Columbia to recruit medical students and attract world-class faculty and researchers.
With experience utilizing a private-public partnership (P3) delivery, USC embarked on the most advantageous delivery to facilitate the simultaneous development of a medical teaching building, a research building, and associated site infrastructure on land owned by the University. The P3 delivery will result in the most timely, economical, and successful project completion.
The University and Gilbane are committed to including minority and women-owned businesses in our contracts; the goal for subcontracting participation on this project is 30 percent for design and construction entities. Gilbane’s partners include construction manager Brownstone Construction Group, a minority-owned business, and development consultant Restoration 52, a minority- and women-owned business.
The initial stage of the health sciences campus will include a medical education component to house the School of Medicine along with a multidisciplinary research component, together comprising a single building of approximately 315,000 gross square feet.
Construction of the Health Sciences Campus will begin in 2025, and the School of Medicine/research building is expected to be fully completed in 2027.
Project Overview
- Development of USC’s new School of Medicine, part of the Health Sciences Campus, to be delivered through a public-private partnership (P3)
- ~315,000 GSF medical education & research facility and ~11,000 GSF central utility plant
- 30% MWBE participation goal during the design and construction phase
- Team: USC is partnering with Gilbane to lead the planning, design, development, and construction. In addition to Gilbane Development and Gilbane Building Company, other key project team members include construction manager Brownstone Construction Group, a minority-owned business, development consultant Restoration 52, a minority- and women-owned business, and lead designer, BOUDREAUX, collaborating with The SLAM Collaborative.
“Gilbane understands the meaningful impact this project will have within the local community and throughout the state. Embracing a spirit of partnership and collaboration, we look forward to helping realize the vision for the health sciences campus within the Bull Street District, achieving exceptional outcomes for USC and the greater Columbia community.”
John Keegan
Vice President
Gilbane Development Company
Quick Stats
- Location: Columbia, SC
- Market: Public-Private Partnerships (P3)
- Size: 315,000 GSF
30%
MWBE participation goal
315,000
GSF medical education & research facility
11,000
GSF central utility plant
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