The Citadel Debuts New Take on Historic Hall

November 16, 2023November 13, 2023 School News 1126 Views Capers Hall, Thompson Turner Construction, Woolpert

By Eric Althoff

CHARLESTON, S.C.—Design firm Woolpert and general contractor Thompson Turner Construction have completed work at the Citadel military college’s newest structure, which replaces the original Capers Hall, first opened in the 1950s.

The new $67-million Capers Hall offers customizable classroom designers, AV capabilities, smart tech devices as well as a contemporary computer lab. The three-story, 97,500-square-foot edifice houses both the institute’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences and also a 250-seat performing arts auditorium, art gallery, mock courtroom, as well as areas devoted to cybersecurity and the handling of other delicate and sensitive information.

“Capers Hall has been a bedrock of this institution for seven decades,” the Citadel Provost Sally SeldeIt said at a recent ribbon-cutting event. “As we stand in this new building today, it’s not just bricks and mortar we see, but the embodiment of a strategic vision—Our Mighty Citadel.”

Woolpert aimed at incorporating as many sustainable elements as possible, including recycling crushed concrete, masonry and stucco from the demolition of the original Capers Hall to be reused in the new facility’s foundation and parking lot. Additionally, Thompson Turner installed upon the roof a photovoltaic solar power system to help offset energy consumption. This is part of the Citadel’s overall goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.

“The building’s exterior seamlessly blends with the rest of the campus’s Moorish architecture through its white stucco façade and incorporation of the building’s original iron-frame light fixtures,” said Woolpert Project Manager David Welling. “The exterior is beautiful, but the technology and interior details within are what truly make this new building so special.

“We are really looking forward to seeing how the cadets and faculty make use of their new spaces.”

Woolpert, founded in 2011 in Dayton, Ohio, employs over 2,000 people on five continents. The firm’s services include AEG, geospatial and strategic consulting.