New academic/office building is nearing completion

Coastal Carolina University’s new $12 million academic student and faculty building, adjacent to E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, is near completion. Crews have used the past few weeks to complete various punch list items, such as installing carpeting and tiling throughout the building.

Shawn Godwin, project manager for the new academic building, gives Nov. 26 as the date set to move in furniture and other accessories.

“Faculty members will be able to move items into their respective offices during the winter break, with the intention to have it up and running by the start of spring semester,” Godwin says. Approximately 104 parking spaces have been set aside, but as of now, it is uncertain if they will be for faculty, students or a mixture of both. 

Construction began on Oct. 31, 2011. Godwin says the completion schedule was a tight one. 

“Most of the construction jobs here have been delayed by a shortage of materials due to the economy,” he says. “But even with material delays, the contractor, M.B. Kahn Construction, has been working around the clock to complete the building.”

The three-story, 48,995-square-foot building will house disciplines such as psychology, sociology, history, politics, world languages and cultures, and philosophy and religion. The new building will contain 109 academic offices for faculty and staff, with the third floor comprised of offices. The second floor contains one 85-seat tiered classroom, six 30-seat classrooms and more office space. Two 120-seat tiered classrooms will be located on the first floor, along with six 25-seat classrooms. Another 1,700-square-feet of the first floor will be for food services, including an Einstein Bros. Bagel Shop with interior and exterior dining space. 

Godwin is an alumnus of CCU, class of ’96. His contribution to its new façade isn’t lost on him. “It’s cool to see the growth. There wasn’t even a football team when I was here!”