Charleston Southern University held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Aug. 17 in celebration of the newest residence hall and a new student health clinic on campus.
Opening of Magnolia Hall
The day began with nearly 150 attendees for a ceremony outside of Magnolia Hall, the 52,000-square-foot, three-story suite-style dorm housing 216 students.
“Today is a day of celebration for Charleston Southern University,” President B. Keith Faulkner said, addressing the crowd of students, alumni, faculty, staff, board members and community partners. “Every room, every gathering space and every detail of Magnolia Hall was designed with our students in mind — and most importantly, by listening to what our students told us they wanted from their residential experience.”
Housing demand has increased year over year at CSU, with the university using the former on-campus Wingate Hotel for overflow housing the last four years. This year, the university has taken on the hotel as a fully functioning residence hall — now named Palmetto Hall — adding two major residential location options for incoming and current CSU students.
“As our university continues to grow, we remain committed to providing an exceptional student experience rooted in academic excellence and a Christian environment,” said Faulkner. “Facilities like Magnolia Hall help us recruit outstanding students, strengthen our campus community, and create an environment where young men and women can flourish academically, spiritually and personally.”
Liya Besintu, a senior computer science major, addressed the crowd with a message of thanks. “As students, we are incredibly grateful. This is so much more than just a new building. It is a new space for students to live, connect, build friendships and create memories that we will carry with us long after we graduate.”
In addition to spacious suite-style rooms for Charleston Southern residential students, Magnolia offers an expansive laundry facility, a grab-and-go retail location called The Galley at Magnolia, a fitness center, community rooms, large community kitchen and ample study spaces. Central to the Mead and Magnolia Halls is a shared courtyard with a reflecting pool, swings, picnic tables and fire pits for students to enjoy between and after classes.
