Restoration project at S.C. State maintains building's 1917 character
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff Writer Sunday, February 22, 20094 comment(s) | Default | Large
Lowman Hall is a historic landmark at South Carolina State University that is nearly as old as the historically black institution itself.
The three-story building that once served as a male dormitory was named after one of the university's original trustees, W.F. Lowman.
Since being erected in 1917, Lowman Hall has been witness to all of S.C. State's highs and lows over the years. From the Orangeburg Massacre to the 2007 Democratic presidential debate, it has been there stoically watching. Fifteen years ago, Lowman Hall deteriorated to the point where it could no longer remain open. It still sat there with its age concealed by a black tarp, a resounding symbol of the university's chronic deferred maintenance needs.
Until now.
Last July, Lowman Hall underwent construction that will give the 92-year-old building a new lease on life. After the $7 million construction project is finished this September, it will become the university's administrative headquarters.
Senior Vice President of Finance John Smalls said no effort is being spared to maintain the original architecture of Lowman Hall.
"Everything that could be restored, we restored," Smalls said.
Project manager Thomas Sinclair said the main goal is to keep everything just like it was in 1917 from the windows to the floor.
To illustrate that point, Sinclair noted a false door was placed on the second floor to reflect that a door was once there. The original wood paneling that lines the corridors of Lowman Hall is also being carefully preserved as well.
When S.C. State President Dr. George Cooper and other university officials move their offices into Lowman Hall this fall, they will be focused on the institution's future but surrounded by its history.
Board Chairman Lumus Byrd's Lowman Hall experience has been and will be a testament to that.
Byrd arrived at S.C. State in 1959 as a wide-eyed freshman away from home for the first time.
He lived at Lowman Hall in room 213 with his roommate, Napoleon Bonaparte Giles.
Byrd said living at Lowman Hall gave him the chance to meet other people and forge life-long frie-ips.
A few months from now and a half century later, Byrd will once again return to his former residence, but this time he'll be on the third floor presiding over a board meeting.
"It's almost like I've come full circle," he said. "It's going to be fun to see that building back," he said.
Bringing that building back has not been without challenges, both Smalls and Sinclair point out.
Sinclair said parts of Lowman Hall had to be reinforced to provide structural support. Another hurdle is keeping the hardwood floors level while adhering to strict federal guidelines for restoring historical landmarks, Sinclair said.
Lowman Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. Smalls said the federal requirements for historic preservation projects are unrelenting and added an extra layer of red tape to the project.
However, he said that ensures the integrity of the preservation effort.
Smalls cited funding as another issue. South Carolina gave S.C. State $1 million a decade ago when the project was first conceived. The federal government threw in another $700,000 and the university had to come up with rest, Smalls said.
State regulations require all funding for a project to be in place before construction can begin.
Smalls said the excitement on campus over the restoration has already begun.
"A lot of people are very passionate about it," he said.
Byrd can be counted among them.
"It's going to bring back a lot of fond memories," Byrd said.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by email at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.
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cherokee wrote on Feb 23, 2009 5:54 PM:
cherokee wrote on Feb 23, 2009 5:46 PM:
Don't forget thje Stadium. SCSU LOST millions in construction dollars when the Contractor used sub-standard materials. SCSU actually paid twice for that work (and it is still far from completed.
Other buildings used for ACADEMICS are more important than SHM. Students don't attend SCSU solely for sports. They come for that little paper called a DIPLOMA. Sports are secondary to EDUCATION!
PS: Most Sports Organizations such as NCAA requires their teams to be self-sufficient and not in the Red zone. If they do not stay in the BLACK, then teams can be censored. That's how other Colleges and Universities operate but not SCSU. SCSU requires that all students to have Physical Education at a cost to the students. This money goes to Sports so that they are not operating in the RED. Except for Military Colleges, very, very few other Colleges and Universities require PE. "
Chris' Cloths wrote on Feb 23, 2009 1:49 PM:
enough_already wrote on Feb 23, 2009 8:41 AM: