The new facility also responds to the challenges of operating without a dedicated College of Medicine building. Medical students currently share classrooms and study areas with students from MUSC’s five other colleges, while academic and student support personnel work across multiple buildings. | Photo Credit: MUSC
- Project: MUSC College of Medicine Building
- Location: Charleston, S.C.
- Size: 186,000 square feet
- Estimated cost: $175 million
- Current milestone: Topped out Aug. 14, 2026
- Opening: Late 2027
- Purpose: First dedicated home for MUSC’s College of Medicine in more than 100 years
- Key spaces: Active-learning classrooms, study and relaxation areas, wellness spaces, faculty and alumni commons, offices, event space and café
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has topped out its new College of Medicine building, marking a major construction milestone for the $175 million project in Charleston.
Construction crews placed the final structural steel beam on Aug. 14 during a ceremony attended by university leaders, project partners, faculty, staff and donors. The 186,000-square-foot facility will become the College of Medicine’s first dedicated home in more than 100 years and is scheduled to open in late 2027.
The project is being developed in the heart of MUSC’s campus at the corner of Bee and President streets and is intended to centralize medical education, student services and academic leadership that are currently distributed among multiple campus buildings.
Creating a New Hub for Medical Education
Plans for the building emphasize flexible learning, collaboration and student support. Major components will include active-learning environments, large classrooms, student study and relaxation areas, wellness spaces, faculty and alumni commons, faculty and staff offices and the College of Medicine dean’s office. MUSC’s project information also identifies event space and a café among the planned amenities.
Students and faculty contributed input to the building’s design, with the facility planned to provide flexibility and capacity to accommodate the college’s educational mission and future growth. MUSC recently welcomed 186 students into its College of Medicine Class of 2030.
The new facility also responds to the challenges of operating without a dedicated College of Medicine building. Medical students currently share classrooms and study areas with students from MUSC’s five other colleges, while academic and student support personnel work across multiple buildings.
“Today marks an exciting milestone and gets us one step closer to our goal of elevating the medical education experience for students, staff, faculty and alumni at MUSC,” said Terrence E. Steyer, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for Medical Affairs.
Part of Long-Term Campus Investment
The College of Medicine building is part of MUSC’s long-term campus master plan and broader investment in facilities supporting education, research and patient care.
MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, said bringing future physicians together in a dedicated environment is expected to strengthen collaboration while supporting the university’s education, research and healthcare missions.
The approximately $175 million project, designed by SLAM in collaboration with Liollio Architecture and built by Thompson Turner Construction, is being funded through a combination of public and private sources. Construction is expected to conclude in time for a late 2027 opening.