1930s plan guided federally supported WPA construction on the Columbia campus before World War II, and a master plan prepared in 1961 helped guide the rapid expansion of campus in the 1960s and '70s.

The 1994 campus master plan has directed construction since then, placing a premium on the spatial and architectural principles evident on the historic Horseshoe. The University's three new quads--South, East, and West--are home to some 1,500 undergraduate students, and all of these residence halls are reminiscent of the Horseshoe in their design and eye-pleasing appeal.

The 1997 updated master plan located the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the Graduate Science Research Center, and the Arnold School of Public Health expansion, among other projects. The 2001/03 master plans sited the Colonial Center, the Greek Village, and the future School of Law.

Master planning is continuing in 2006 and beyond with the Boston-based campus planning firm Sasaki and Associates again commissioned to continue the University's planning efforts. Since 1994, more than $300 million has been invested in the expansion and redevelopment of the University campus. Our newest residence hall, West Quad, has been recognized with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is our intent that all future campus buildings will be LEED-certified.

In the next five years, the University of South Carolina's 358-acre campus is expected to grow by at least 200 acres as a result of master planning efforts. We're also involved in a cooperative effort with the Guignard family of Columbia to develop riverfront property west of campus that will complement our own campus growth.

The next several years should prove to be among the most exciting and rewarding eras in University history with considerable expansion of the campus.