Clemson University Alumni & Visitors Center Reaches Construction Milestone

November 20, 2023

Thirteen people, mostly wearing hard hats and safety vests, gather around a signed steel beam topped by a small Christmas tree. The beam sits on a pair of plywood sawhorses. The group is gathered under a corrugated metal roof, and they are standing on red dirt.

The Clemson University Alumni & Visitors Center has reached its full height, marking a major construction milestone. The university and Brasfield & Gorrie, the project’s construction manager, celebrated the craft workers who are building the facility during a recent topping out ceremony.

“Topping out is an exciting time because we get to recognize the people whose skill and hard work make construction projects possible,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Vice President and Division Manager Ben Barfield. “The Alumni & Visitors Center topping out milestone is particularly special because most of our project team are Tiger alumni. What a great feeling and accomplishment for our team to invest in their alma mater and college community.”

To date, the project has included:

moving 8,000 tons of dirt
pouring 2,800 yards of concrete
setting 2,500 pieces of steel
placing 300,000 pounds of cross laminated timber

This five-story, 98,000 sq ft structure will gather Tigers of multiple generations under one roof. The Center will house numerous programs, including the Clemson Alumni Association, Class of 1944 Visitors Center, the Board of Trustees office, Advancement, Clemson University Foundation, Admissions and the Michelin Career Center, as well as a new golf pro shop and grille.

Brasfield & Gorrie’s Greenville office is leading this project. The company has worked in the Upstate for more than 30 years and established its Greenville brick-and-mortar office in 2013. Other notable projects in the area include Clemson University Memorial Stadium Renovations, Clemson University Women’s Sports Program Expansion, Carroll A. Campbell Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Arthrex Manufacturing and Central Services Facility, DC BLOX Greenville Data Center, and the Camperdown Mixed-Use Development.

Brasfield & Gorrie is working with architects Goodwyn Mills Cawood and Cooper Carry on this project. Construction is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2024.