January 20, 2010: Exterior images. View photos or slideshow.

January 20, 2010: Mayor White tours "The George." Construction photos updated. View photos or slideshow.

January 13, 2010: Local media caught the first public glimpses of USC Upstate's rapidly progressing George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics during a special luncheon celebrating 100,000 man-hours with no accidents or injuries at the St. John Street site. And, the $21 million construction project is under budget and ahead of schedule. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony are planned for May 13. View photos.

January 4, 2010: Construction photos updated. View photos or slideshow.

November 4, 2009: Construction of “The George” is progressing well:  view photos. The cast stone masonry exterior is approximately 50% complete and the Flemish bond brick pattern will be complete at the east and west elevations by the end of November. The south-facing brick (overlooking St. John St.) will be completed by the end of December and the tower masonry will be finished by the end of January.

The north façade, which faces the new parking garage, has been fully scaffolded and EIFS application has begun. This surface material resembles the north facades at both the east and west wings at the Chapman Cultural Center.

The exterior window frame and glass installation are about halfway complete and temporary plastic has been installed at other openings to keep the interior dry and heated. Permanent power to the building has been installed and energized. Mechanical equipment has been installed and is providing heat to allow drywall installation to proceed. Water piping and sprinkler systems are also in place. The steel stud interior framing and drywall work is approximately 90 % complete and finishes have started.

To date, workers have spent over 75,000 hours on the construction with no lost-time injuries. We are still on schedule for a May 2010 opening.

July 31, 2009: A Topping Out Ceremony was held to celebrate the overall completion of the building structure and the placement of the final beam of steel to the highest point of the building. View photos or slideshow.

July 1, 2009: Construction photos updated. View photos.

June 18 & 22, 2009: Construction photos updated. View photos.

June 5, 2009: Construction photos updated. View photos.

May 14, 2009: Construction photos updated. View photos.

May 5, 2009: Work is going well on “The George” despite losing 15 days to inclement weather. Linbeck has completed site demolition and utilities, and has brought the site to level grade. They have also completed the rammed aggregate piers (which the foundation rests on) and the concrete foundations and footings.

Linbeck is currently installing the plumbing and electrical infrastructure under the concrete slab. The ground-level concrete floor slab will be poured before the end of May. After the concrete slab is in place, we will begin erecting the structural steel frame of the building, which will take most of the summer. Metal stud framing for exterior and interior walls and masonry (brick and cast stone veneer) will start near the end of summer.

April 28, 2009: Construction photos updated. View photos or slideshow.

February 18, 2009: George Dean Johnson, Jr. School of Business and Economics Project Schedule

February 4, 2009: Construction work is going well on “The George”. The first phase, which consisted of installing a large storm water drainage pipe into East St. John Street was completed about one week ahead of schedule, despite losing 6 days to rainy weather. The next phase of work includes sitework and structure:

Sitework - The existing storm water pipe that sat within the footprint of the new building will be demolished. Then, underground utilities to serve the site will be installed and a concrete retaining wall along East St. John Street will be erected. Following this step, truckloads of fill dirt will be brought in to raise the site to the correct height and then the building itself will begin.

Structure - The foundation of the structure will begin with the use of rammed aggregate piers to help stabilize the soil, so that it can support the weight of the building. Then the concrete foundations, grade beams, and first floor slab will be poured. When these activities are complete, we will begin erecting the steel frame of the building. This phase will last into the summer.

December 15, 2008: Construction photos updated. View photos or slideshow.

November 25, 2008: E. St. John Street Traffic Control Plan Begins December 3

November 6, 2008: Ground breaking held at the new, downtown location of the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics. Watch the ground breaking video or check out the online photo gallery.