College of Pharmacy moves into its new facility

The last time the MUSC pharmacy program moved into a new building was only a few years after the Great War.

That's what Americans were still calling World War I back on May 12, 1940, when the dedication took place for what became the Michael P. Araneo Building and the College of Pharmacy's home for more than 80 years.

The dedication for the college's sparkling new facility will be April 14-15, 2023, just a few weeks before the old building turns 83 years old. MUSC is holding a Grand Opening on April 14 and the college is holding a donor-invitation event in the morning of April 15, followed by an Open House from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The MUSC Alumni Association is holding a reunion celebration that night at 5 Faber Street.

"It's a tremendously exciting time for the MUSC pharmacy family," said Philip Hall, dean of the MUSC College of Pharmacy. "We've been looking forward to moving day for a long time and we're thrilled that it's finally here!"

The college's mascot Phil the Pill announced Moving Day with the aptly-named video "Moving Day" last week, completing something of a trilogy with the teaser trailer and actual feature for the building's groundbreaking.

Founded in 1881 and admitting its first students the following year, the MUSC College of Pharmacy has a rich and storied history. The path to the new facility, which is housed on the MUSC Horseshoe in the heart of campus, was quite a tale in its right. The "Building the Future of Pharmacy" fundraising campaign mobilized alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the college, ultimately raising millions of dollars. The effort received strong support from MUSC and the South Carolina state legislature. 

The new space covers 24,000 square feet and is part of a larger $58 million construction project that includes a total renovation of the Colbert Library and Education Building as well as renovations to the large basic science shared classrooms and auditorium to provide state-of-the-art learning environments for students across all colleges. Construction started in April 2021 and was handled by Whiting-Turner Company.