Groundbreaking For New Residence Hall is Thursday, June 4

With its Gaffney campus enrollment continuing to surge, Limestone College will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 4, at 10:30 a.m., for a new residence hall that is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.

The ceremony for the Walter W. Brown Residence Hall groundbreaking will take place on Church Street across from the Fullerton Auditorium Parking Lot. Brown was an influential Cherokee County businessman and served for many years as a Trustee at Limestone beginning in 1965.

During the most recent academic year, Limestone had 1,185 students in its traditional day program. Since 2008-2009, the College’s enrollment has increased 59.7 percent. That growth can be largely attributed to Limestone’s Strategic Initiative that recently added intercollegiate football, a marching band, a competitive cheerleading squad and dance team, and the McMillian Scholarship Program for female students.

A residence hall master plan highlighted Limestone’s need for additional housing capacity to support the College’s growth and to enhance the on-campus experience for its students. The new residence hall will offer approximately 200 beds in a pod-style configuration that will include a mix of single- and double-occupancy options.

“This new residence hall will significantly improve the quality of our undergraduate housing on campus and advance our broader commitment to an unrivaled student experience,” said Limestone President Dr. Walt Griffin. “It will also create a vibrant and beautiful entrance on that side of our campus.”

The 45,000-square-foot three-story structure will be built at the corner of Griffith and O’Neal Streets at a cost of approximately $8.75 million. There is sufficient property where the residence hall will be built to add new campus buildings and more student housing in the future. Parking for the structure will be at the corner of Griffith and Church Streets, with additional spaces available in the adjacent Fullerton lot. The entire building and parking lot perimeter will be lined with trees and lighting.

The residence hall will be primarily brick with limestone and stucco accents and asphalt shingles. It will feature a second floor roof garden and a third floor patio. An outdoor activity area for students will be located at the rear of the building.

“Residential life is an integral part of the college experience,” Dr. Griffin noted. “The Walter W. Brown Residence Hall will provide experiences that will substantively enhance student life and development, foster community, and carry the mission of Limestone outside of the classroom. It will offer students a lively center for intellectual, social, and community engagement. We are very appreciative of the Board of Trustees for their support of the project.”

The typical pod floorplan includes bedrooms, restrooms, a social and study area, computer work station, and television and lounge area. Each floor will also feature a commons area for social gatherings. The residence hall will also have a shared kitchen area and laundry facilities.

Three of Walter W. Brown’s children continue to be involved in the progress taking place at Limestone. His son William currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and he issued successful challenges recently to help fund construction of a new library and an athletic field house. His son James W. (Jim) Brown served previously as a Limestone Trustee and will return to the Board beginning on July 1. His daughter Margaret Clary is completing a five-year term on the Board of Trustees.

“Our family has been associated with Limestone College for generations,” said William Brown. “We honor our father, Walter W. Brown, with the naming of this residence hall, a recognition befitting his years of dedication to Limestone's progress and his respect for Limestone's vital contributions to our community.”

The College’s most recent residence hall opened in 2011 and was instantly filled to capacity. Due to the continuing increases in enrollment, Limestone has secured rental property off campus in recent years to accommodate its student housing needs.