PC Buildings

Neville Hall, originally known as the Administration Building, was built in 1907 at a cost of $35,000. Located on the highest ground on campus, Neville is a central building on the Presbyterian College campus. Designed by Charles Coker Wilson, this three-story Georgian revival building has a projecting central pavilion topped by an Ionic portico. The portico is flanked by paired Tuscan pilasters and the building itself is crowned with a hemispherical dome. The structure initially included offices, classrooms, science laboratories, the college library, an auditorium, and meeting rooms for the literary societies of the college. In 1944 the building was renamed in honor of the memory of William G. Neville, college president at the time of the building’s construction.

Dr. William Gordon Neville, the seventh president of PC, whose name graces its signature building, was faced with quite a task during the first year of his presidency. With PC under full control of the Synod of South Carolina, several towns felt that their communities had more to offer to the college than Clinton could offer. Bennettsville, Chester, Sumter, and Yorkville submitted bids to relocate PC to their respective communities, making compelling cases and monetary offers to the college’s Board of Trustees in September of 1905.  After reviewing each proposal, the Board voted that the college would remain in Clinton, which allowed President Neville to concentrate on fundraising for the college.

Also during Neville’s presidency, a new administration building was completed and, in 1944, was renamed Neville Hall in Neville’s honor. Recitation Hall was sold to Thornwell Orphanage, and all college activities took place on the 30-acre campus on the east side of Broad Street.  The old bell from the Academy building was brought to the campus from Thornwell and served as a class bell until an electronic system was installed after World War II. Neville also made plans for a new dining hall and a dormitory.

Both interior and exterior renovations were done in 1965 at the cost of $375,000, and additional interior work was done in 1988. As part of the renovation of 1965, new floors were suspended in the original rotunda and the auditorium, resulting in an additional 8,000 square feet of office space. Wooden staircases were replaced with concrete stairs and air conditioning and an elevator were also installed at that time.

Neville Hall underwent another major renovation in 2016 and 2017. Commissioned to restore the grandeur of the original design, architectural firm Craig Gaulden Davis launched an intensive study of the building’s condition and historical significance, paying particular attention to the central rotunda that had been concealed by decades of renovations. Working closely with faculty, administration and board members to execute this dream, the rotunda’s majestic volume now connects each floor to the octagonal main entrance and floods the interior with natural light. The Cornelson Center, a 14,000 square foot addition to Neville Hall, was also part of this renovation. Along with the additional office and classroom space, additional student lounges were incorporated in the building project to allow for students to gather in groups for study and conversation.