(Orangeburg, SC) — South Carolina State University has officially renamed one of its major STEM facilities in honor of longtime U.S. Congressman and SC State alumnus James E. Clyburn.
The university dedicated the James E. Clyburn Engineering and Computer Science Complex during a ceremony held Wednesday, August 5, on the SC State campus in Orangeburg. University leaders, students and guests gathered to recognize Clyburn’s decades of public service, his longstanding support of historically Black colleges and universities, and his continued commitment to his alma mater.
The approximately 85,000-square-foot complex serves as a central hub for engineering, computer science, research and hands-on learning at SC State. The facility includes 15 laboratories, 21 classrooms, three computer labs, 72 faculty offices and a 225-seat auditorium, along with conference rooms and student and faculty spaces.
The complex is also home to SC State’s nuclear engineering program, the only nuclear engineering program located at a historically Black college or university. The university also houses a NuScale nuclear reactor control-room simulator, further strengthening its role in preparing students for careers in advanced technology, engineering and energy-related fields.
The dedication comes as SC State continues expanding its STEM offerings, including programs in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering and cybersecurity.
University President Alexander Conyers highlighted Clyburn’s continuing support of SC State, including federal investments benefiting engineering, nuclear technology, transportation research and the university’s military science programs.
Clyburn, a 1961 graduate of South Carolina State University, reflected during the ceremony on the important role the institution played in his own life and the broader role HBCUs have played in creating educational opportunities for generations of students.
The newly named complex now stands as both a tribute to Clyburn’s legacy and a symbol of SC State’s future—connecting the university’s historic mission with its growing emphasis on science, technology, engineering, innovation and workforce development.
For South Carolina State University, the dedication represents more than the naming of a building. It places the legacy of one of the university’s most prominent graduates at the center of a facility designed to educate and prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, researchers and technology leaders.
