Gilbane tops out USC School of Medicine building in Columbia

Gilbane and the University of South Carolina reached the peak on a health sciences building for USC as 2025 drew to a close.

Gilbane, an integrated real estate development and construction firm, “topped out” on USC’s new School of Medicine at its Health Sciences Campus in Columbia’s BullStreet District.

The two organizations marked the placement of a building’s final structural steel beam. The accompanying ceremony is a time-honored milestone, recognizing the project’s momentum and honoring the dedication and craftsmanship of the construction and design teams, according to a news release. USC students, staff and project team members had signed two beams, both of which will be permanently installed and displayed in the building, allowing the signatures to remain as a lasting tribute to everyone who helped bring the project along.

Set to open in August 2027, the $300 million, 330,000-square-foot project represents a public-private partnership between USC and Gilbane, which is leading the planning, design, development and construction of the project.

Upon completion, the new facility is designed with an objective to blur the boundaries between interdisciplinary research and medical education, offering state-of-the-art classrooms, research labs, medical simulations spaces, health sciences library, and collaborative indoor and outdoor learning and event spaces.

“Gilbane is known as a leader in constructing cutting-edge science and research facilities, and this new School of Medicine building showcases that expertise,” Brian Steed, vice president and South Carolina business leader for Gilbane Building, said in the release. “We’re proud to support USC’s mission and the future of health care education in South Carolina. Thank you to our project and trade partners for their collaboration and to the skilled craft for their work in realizing this exciting milestone.”

USC has partnered with Gilbane, as it leads the planning, design, development and construction. Key Columbia-based partners include architect Boudreaux and Brownstone Design and Construction Group. The Slam Collaborative is the lead design architect, and Greenville-based Restoration 52 is a development consultant. Construction began in February 2025.