Campus Growth & Expansion
Limestone can boast of the addition of several other buildings to the campus in the early part of this new century.
The Physical Education Center, constructed in 2005, was renamed the Walt Griffin Physical Education Center in 2009.
A new residence hall, with a capacity of 96 students, was opened in early 2011. It was named for Vivian and George Carl Ball in 2015. At the corner of O’Neal and Griffith Streets, the 200-bed Walter W. Brown Residence Hall opened in the fall of 2016.
The Limestone Center, acquired from the Cherokee County School District, was completely renovated in 2010 and today affords excellent facilities for both intercollegiate athletics and Limestone’s Department of Theatre.
The former YMCA building on campus was acquired by Limestone in 2010 and renovated for both academic and student service uses as part of the Timken Center.
A building in downtown Gaffney was leased by the College in 2012 primarily for use by the Music Department.
Limestone acquired two nearby apartment complexes, The Cedars and Walton Ridge, for student housing in 2013.
The historic Fort House, a two-story brick home located on Overbrook Drive, was donated to Limestone in 2010. It has been used for several purposes over the years.
The Landon House near the Camp-Swofford Chapel was acquired in 2014 for the Christian Education Leadership Program (CELP). The nearby Agape’ House was acquired for CELP in 2015, with a third house added in2020
The Bob Campbell Field House, providing locker facilities for 477 student-athletes, opened in the fall of 2014. It is connected directly to the Limestone Center.
Shannon Hamrick Park, which opened in the spring of 2019 near Limestone’s baseball stadium, was made possible by a gift from Barry and Judy Hamrick in memory of their late son. As a part of the park, the areas along the back and sides of the baseball grandstands had brick facades and signage added. A raised patio area that includes tables and umbrellas sits along the third base side of the field and offers a new seating area for baseball spectators. In addition, new restroom facilities have been constructed.
The Cunning Victory Bell Tower was also dedicated in the spring of 2019. Named in memory of the late Barbara Cunning by her husband Dr. Charles Cunning, the Victory Bell Tower overlooks the Limestone quarry and is situated between the University's athletic and academic facilities. The Bell Tower plays the “Blue and Gold” fight song to recognize athletic victories and other monumental occasions at the University. The ornamental bell inside the tower hung from the top of the Curtis Administration Building for several decades until it was removed in 1998. For many years after it was acquired in the 1800s, the bell summoned Limestone’s students to their classes and meals.
The legacy of legendary Gaffney High School coach and Cherokee County educator Robert E. “Bob” Prevatte now has a permanent home at Limestone, thanks to a record-breaking $4.1 million gift from Jerry Richardson, who played for Prevatte when he served as an assistant football coach in North Carolina prior to his coaching career in Gaffney. The Bob Prevatte Athletic Complex was dedicated in the summer of 2019. The highlight of the dedication was the unveiling of the Bob Prevatte statue at the community entrance of the complex located off Leadmine Street in Gaffney.
Bob Prevatte statue
In addition to the statue and new entrances and signage, the Prevatte Complex has provided aesthetic enhancements and many new elements to the campus. Some of those include a new artificial turf practice field, permanent seating at Saints Field (which hosts lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey), community gathering spots, decorative fencing, and more. The campus connector walkways and a new bridge physically connect the academic portion of Limestone’s property to the athletics facilities.
In January of 2020, Limestone held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 65,000-square-foot library and student center. Now under construction, the three-story building will open in 2021. The $18 million dual-purpose facility is being made possible as part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program.
The new student center will be on the first floor and will include a common area, a public art gallery, a community meeting space, and an additional student dining area. The library portion will be located on the second and third floors. It will include advanced computer and audiovisual technology, a writing and math center, reading area, classrooms, and student work areas.
A new landscape master plan was begun in 2020 to beautify the campus and provide structured outdoor space for student life. Thanks to a partnership with Ball Horticultural, a special planting announcement will be made soon.
A new outdoor amphitheater located in front of Granberry Hall opened during the 2020 fall semester. During the 2020-2021 academic year, Limestone University is implementing a campus-wide landscaping masterplan.
Rendering of Granberry Hall Amphitheater scheduled to open later in the fall of 2020