The planned demolition of Wofford and Richardson residence halls has left many
students wondering about how these plans would affect them and what the future holds for the replacement of the facilities.
The university had announced that the buildings would be demolished, but the exact
plans for the demolition timetable and replacement of the buildings were unknown to many students. James Grigg, associate vice president of facilities management, said many possibilities will follow the demolition of Richardson and Wofford.
“One is a new residence hall, another is potentially academic building close to the corner of Alumni and also with the master plan we’ve talked about potentially changing the alignment of …. the railroad track.”
The faculty and staff had communicated about the demolition of Richardson and
Wofford. “So, we have communications with Residence Life. I’m not sure why Residence Life didn’t have a follow up communication with RAs,” Grigg said.
Morgan Green, senior in sociology, said the loss of the dormitories could be
disheartening for incoming freshman.
“I feel like it’s unfair to the freshman class … because I feel like those two buildings are what helped us as freshman transition into college and they’re kind of the key, essential, components to the freshman experience,” Green said. “So, I feel like they’re missing a key factor of their freshman year.”
RA TJ Carbon, sophomore in political science said the buildings helped encourage
companionship and kindness through academic and social events. “I was heartbroken about the demolition of Richardson.”
Built in the 1960s, Wofford and Richardson halls are both eight-story concrete buildings with basements. While Richardson was co-ed, Wofford was part of the first-year college experience for women. Wofford and Richardson had common kitchens and study areas on each story, as well as community-style bathrooms and large lobbies.
The science buildings, Sims and Dalton, the Eagle Eatery in Thomson Hall, and student parking are all within walking distance of
Wofford and Richardson.
Based on a Board of Trustees’ strategy to rejuvenate campus housing, Wofford was
supposed to be closed in May 2022. Richardson and Wofford opened in 1967, making both buildings more than 50 years old. Howard M. Seidler, director of student affairs operations and interim director of Residence Life, said both buildings have major interior structural problems
including plumbing, electric and AVC.
Winthrop accelerated Wofford’s closure to July 2021 because of structural assessments of both buildings that were conducted following the collapse of a Miami condo tower out of an abundance of caution. In the summer of 2022, Richardson was offline. “The top floor of Richardson had grown mold,” said RA Sydney Largent, a musical theatre major. “Wofford had the worst mold, and Wofford’s roof was also craving in.”
The simultaneous demolition of the buildings will result in financial savings. “Due to the age of the buildings and the slow deterioration of the concrete, it is not a viable option to remodel. In addition, many building systems were at the end of their functional life. For all of these reasons, demolition makes sense,” said Kimberly Faust, vice president and chief of staff for the
Office of the President.
Faust said the demolitions must be approved by the state before they can
proceed.
