Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., has opened a $10 million addition of Freeman Hall to provide more space for the growing industrial engineering department.
The university says the 21,000-square-foot addition includes 15 faculty offices, two large student spaces, three conference rooms, four offices for administration and an auditorium with seating for 100. The auditorium also is equipped four cameras to enable distance learning.
Enrollment in the industrial engineering program has risen 161 percent over 10 years, and Clemson officials expect the addition will enhance research capabilities and attract top students and faculty members from around the world.
“The addition to Freeman Hall helps Clemson provide an educational experience to industrial engineering students that few institutions can match,” said Robert Jones, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Freeman Hall was built in 1926 and originally housed a machine shop, forge, foundry, wood shop, classrooms and offices. Before the addition, the last major renovation to the facility was in 1965.
Faculty members have moved their offices to the addition. Some of their old offices, scattered throughout the old part of Freeman Hall, will be converted to labs..
The general contractor for the addition was M.B. Kahn Construction Co., and the architect was Lord Aeck Sargent.