President Harris Pastides cuts the ribbon to officially open the Honors Residence. Pictured with him (l–r) Ning Yuan, chairman and president of China Construction America; Dr. Kirsten Kennedy, director of University Housing; Rohail Rashid Kazi, Honors Residence hall government president; Dr. Davis Baird, dean of the South Carolina Honors College; and Mark Timbes, principal project manager of Garvin Design Group. The University of South Carolina celebrated the opening of its new Honors Residence 11 am Friday, September 25, with a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting.

The program took place at the Honors Residence courtyard, located at the corner of Sumter and Blossom streets. President Harris Pastides joined Dr. Davis Baird, dean of the S.C. Honors College, and Dr. Kirsten Kennedy, director of University Housing, in offering remarks and cutting the ribbon to celebrate the building’s official opening.

The Honors Residence is the only collegiate residence hall in South Carolina to house all honors college students (500) under one roof. It’s also the only residence hall for honors students that is green in its design and construction and that has expansive living/ learning opportunities. The university is striving for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at a Gold level for the building, which features smart classrooms that allow students to take classes where they live, apartments for South Carolina Honors College staff that gives students greater access to support services, and generous spaces for study and collaboration, a dining hall as well as a Starbucks.