Construction Update

What's going on right now?

The USC Campus Center website lists the project as 14% complete. According to the Daily Trojan, the concrete slab for part of the basement has been poured, while another pour is scheduled next week. Meanwhile, the structural frame of the building is being constructed on the south side and should be completed by the middle of November. The structural frame on the north side should be completed by January 2009.

Want to continue to track progress?

There is one webcam on the Student Union building and another on the Bovard Administration building that look onto the construction site. These webcams can be viewed online with options for watching activity occurring in the past hour, or the past week. 

Greeks getting involved?

This week is Greek Week at USC, and instead of having philanthropy events the various Greek councils are encouraging all Greeks to financially support the Campus Center. According to the Daily Trojan, the Greek councils are putting together packets to help the seniors in the Greek community start the process of giving back to USC, and in particular the Campus Center.

Have there been any complications thus far?

Executive Director of the Campus Center Patrick Bailey says the whole process has been pretty smooth thus far except for a few coordinating challenges. According to Bailey, there have been a couple times when the workers had to work odd hours so that campus activity was not disturbed, and Capital Construction has been very flexible with the school's needs.

What's next?

While construction on the Campus Center continues, Bailey and his staff are now focusing on some other aspects of getting the building operational by the summer of 2010. These other aspects include:

• Looking for furniture
• development/fundraising efforts
• determining operational procedures
• gathering an art collection to be displayed

It's safe to say there's still a lot to be done, but by all accounts the project is off to a roaring start. Thank goodness for the sunny SoCal weather!

Click here for a short slideshow of exterior models of the Campus Center.

USC Campus Center gets facelift

The Project

The Ronald Tutor Campus Center, set to open in the fall of 2010, is a $136 million structure being built by the University of Southern California. The structure will be located in the heart of campus just feet away from Tommy Trojan. The building will be used as a place for current and prospective students, and alumni to congregate and share in their trojan pride.

What's in the Campus Center?

The Campus Center will include the following:

• Epstein Family Alumni Center (home to five different alumni associations)
• Admission Center
• Trojan Hospitality venues including a restaurant, coffee shop, food court, and Traditions
• Student leadership and involvement centers and programming spaces
• a 13,200-square-foot grand ballroom
• a 17,300-square-foot plaza with seating for 800 people

For more on what will be included inside the Campus Center, as well as plans and rendering for each floor go to the Campus Center website.

How did the Campus Center get its name?

The Ronald Tutor Campus Center is named after USC trustee Ronald Tutor, who donated $30 million dollars as the lead gift for the Campus Center. Tutor is president and CEO of the Tutor-Saliba Corp., one of the largest general contractors in the United States. Other big donors to the Campus Center project thus far include Daniel and Phyllis Epstein, who have donated $4 million for the Epstein Family Alumni Center.

How is the Campus Center being funded?

The Campus Center is being funded solely by the University and alumni donations. Executive Director of the Campus Center, Patrick Bailey, says funding for the building is not coming from student tuition. 

Who's working on the building?

The project manager is Stan Westfall from Capital Construction. The architecture firm responsible for designing the structure is AC Martin Partners. Both Patrick Bailey and Jason Cruz, the Campus Center Project Coordinator, are involved with the project on a daily basis representing Student Affairs. 

Click here for a short video package on the construction of the Campus Center

Click here for an extended interview with Executive Director of the Campus Center Patrick Bailey