USC gets OK to borrow millions for old law school renovation

The University of South Carolina Tuesday got the state’s permission to borrow up to $45 million to renovate its former law school building on Main Street.

The downtown Columbia school plans to revamp the 45-year-old, 194,000-square-foot building to make room for modern classrooms and science labs, according to documents filed with the state. Those labs are in “significant demand” with USC’s growing enrollment in science, technology and engineering majors, the documents state.

USC says it needs the money, plus $3.5 million already pledged by S.C. lawmakers, to remove asbestos and lead-based paint, replace the heating and air system and take care of other structural and maintenance needs.

Construction is expected to begin in September, with the renovations complete by summer of 2019.

The State Fiscal Accountability Authority approved USC’s borrowing request Tuesday with no discussion. The project is expected to cost about $47 million.

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 11:25 AM with the headline "USC gets OK to borrow millions for old law school renovation."