Biotech center being built on site of 50-year presidential residence

The presidential residence on Magnolia Street, known as Dunwalton, was demolished to make way for a new biotech center. (Photo via Facebook)

Claflin University broke ground March 20 on a $17.4 million biotechnology and innovation center, marking a significant step forward in the institution’s STEM program.

The groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the future learning facility, which will be built on the site of the presidents’ residence, a structure that stood for more than 55 years until recent demolition.

“It is an historic moment for the institution and so it’s important to understand the historical concept,” Claflin President Dr. Dwaun Warmack said.

Warmack explained that the site has not always served as the presidential home. Prior to 1971, the university president lived at a different location, where the Jonas T. Kennedy (JST) building now stands.

“Pre-1971, where JST is located, that was the presidents’ home at that time,” Warmack said.

The removal of the original presidential home in 1971 was in response to the need for a science building for students at Claflin College, now Claflin University.

The new facility continues a legacy of investing in science and technology.

Warmack said 55 years ago, the university board made a similar decision to construct the JST building as a STEM facility.

“Hence the board here 55 years later now decided to remove the presidents’ home, to build a state-of-the-art computer engineering building,” Warmack said.

The new bio-technology building received $17.4 billion in funding via South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, allowing for construction without any funding from student tuition.

The biotechnology center is not a new project, Warmack said. The project has been in the works for years.

“This is not a new endeavor. We have been working on this for three years,” Warmack said.

In addition to the biotechnology and innovation center, Warmack announced plans to do groundbreaking for a new public health facility. The event has been postponed.

The new public health facility will house multiple study programs and student resources.

“It will house our nurses, our social sciences and counseling centers through student health services,” Warmack said.

The groundbreaking for this facility will come at a later date.

Construction of the biotechnology and innovation center is expected to be completed by fall of 2027.