Following a groundbreaking ceremony that took place on a cold December afternoon in 2012, Salem College dedicated a student center on May 13, 2014, at noon. The event celebrated nearly eighteen months of construction and the generous contributions of those who are making it possible to offer future students a contemporary facility for collaboration and community life.

This new facility showcases a vibrant campus and is a hub for student activity. The student center features a café, bookstore, theater, student lounge, meeting rooms, and a student organizational workroom. Lambert Architecture + Interiors designed the project, which was built by Frank L. Blum Construction Company to be modern and open while reflecting Salem’s historic roots. Located adjacent to Corrin Refectory and Bryant Hall, the building has the appearance of being on the campus for many years.

In constructing its first new building on campus since 1982, Salem College chose to build for the future, with sustainability and preservation in mind. The new student center is designed and constructed to sustain the well being of its occupants and the efficiencies of ongoing expense while preserving the environment and our impact on the world’s resources.

The student center project has been registered in the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building certification system published by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This voluntary guideline awards points for strategies in different categories including Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Interior Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design. Completed projects are certified at four levels according to the number of sustainable strategies successfully implemented in the project. The student center is targeting Silver Certification pending final review by the USGBC.