With a smile and a snip of the scissors, President Harris Pastides cut the ceremonial ribbon that celebrated the reopening of USC’s historic Women’s Quad.
The Women’s Quad underwent extensive renovations over the summer and has a changed look — what was once three separate dormitories was conjoined into one superstructure.
The three residence halls that make up the Women’s Quad — Sims, McClintock and Wade Hampton — have all gone through changes designed to bring the buildings up to modern standards, as well.
Kirsten Kennedy, Executive Director of USC Housing, stressed that the renovations made on large impacts on creating a truly enviable housing environment for students.
“[We’re] putting a priority on making better student environments where students live,” Kennedy said. “There’s a student success center satellite in here to help students be successful. We’re striving for LEED gold in this building for sustainability. There are two classrooms here, kitchens and more gathering spaces to build a community.”
The Women’s Quad renovation falls on the centennial of the first time female students were admitted to USC, Kennedy said.
Wade Hampton, the first female dorm on campus, opened in 1924. Since then, the building was demolished once to make room for the building that housed students up until last spring and again to construct it’s more modern form.
The latest renovation comes as a part of a master plan approved by the USC board of trustees in 2011. The initiative looks to update outdated buildings, benefit students and reach sustainability standards. Two of the three buildings that were once traditional-style were upgraded from to suite style arrangements. The amenities and community rooms will also be accessible from nearby women’s dorm Patterson.
“This is part of a comprehensive campus housing master plan and this was the next building identified as needing renovations,” Kennedy said. “Pinckney/Legare and Rutledge are in the design phase right now, so we have other buildings coming up.”
As part of the ceremony celebrating the renovation, the university invited past residents of the quad to the event and tour the new dorms.
“We definitely want people to come back — this place has changed so much,” Kennedy said.
Residents of the Women’s Quad were praiseworthy of the new facilities and renovations.
In past years, the quad was viewed as subpar in terms of amenities, health and safety concerns. During the 2012-13 school year, 16 residents of Sims were moved out because of mold growth.
Diana Inzirillo, first-year early childhood education student and women’s quad hall government president, said she was excited about living in the dorms for the upcoming year, and Morgan Howard, first year biology student, also lauded the new setup.
“It’s beautiful, the rooms are incredible, really clean, new and spacious,” Howard said.
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