A Facelift for Allen University

Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was founded in 1870. The university has about 600 students, almost all of whom are black.

Currently the university has dormitory rooms for 340 students. But at least one dormitory is more than a century old. About 100 students are housed in rental units off-campus and are bused to classrooms.

Now the university has broken ground on two new dormitories that will house 480 students. The $16 million project was financed by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The dormitories are being constructed on a lot occupied by the Robert Weston Manse House, which served as the residence of the university president. The house is being moved to a new location on campus.