Students, faculty, staff and visitors driving west onto Clemson University’s main campus along Highway 93 have likely noticed a clearing of land adjacent to Douthit Hills. Approved in 2024 by the Board of Trustees, the site is home to the expansion of the Douthit Hills residential community by 372 beds. The project not only adds to Clemson’s on-campus housing inventory for first-year students, but also expands offerings for continuing students beginning in Fall 2027.
“Clemson has continued to increase its choices for both new and continuing residential students,” says Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Kathy Bush Hobgood. “We’ve expanded student on-campus housing over the last decade, through construction and how we better utilize existing spaces.”
When the current renovations to Lever Hall — the third and final upgrade of Clemson’s iconic high-rises — are completed this summer, the University’s on-campus housing enrollment will top 8,000 students for the first time. That number will surpass 8,400 next summer following the completion of the Douthit Hills expansion.
Land was cleared over winter break and temporary fencing was put up around the construction site footprint. Site work to prepare for the building’s foundation will continue through the end of February. Wall panels be erected in March and by the fall, the building structure and roof will be completed. From there, interior work will begin for planned completion for 2027 move-in. Students, faculty, staff and visitors are asked to exercise caution as trucks will be entering and exiting the site onto Highway 93 throughout the duration of the project.
Once completed, Douthit Hills will house nearly a quarter of Clemson’s on-campus population — making it one of the destination points among both first-year and continuing students.
