The Seminary Campus
The Seminary Campus is 15+ acres of beautiful and historic buildings located on the highest point in the city of Columbia. Since 1911, seminarians have walked the campus as they prepare for a life of public ministry.
Seminary Quadrangle
The "Quad" is the center of campus. Enclosing the Quad is Christ Chapel, the Campus Union, Beam Hall, Voigt Classroom Building, and the Casey Center. Within the Quad is the Mary Anna Glass Ridenhour Memorial Rose Garden, plenty of benches and tables for an outside study session, and a covered area just outside of Christ Chapel for gathering before and after worship. The Quad is home to community barbeques, where Adjunct Professor Bobby Morris is frequently seen playing the role of chef.
Beam Hall
Built in 1911 as the first permanent building for Southern Seminary, Beam Hall once held everything a student needed for seminary—Chapel, housing, refectory, classrooms, faculty offices, everything. Today Beam Hall is a mixed-use building, with dormitory, office suites, meeting rooms, and an exercise facility. The bottom level holds Development and Contextual Education offices, the second floor holds the seminary pastor, admissions, and Alumni Hall meeting room on one side and dormitory on the other, and the top floor is all dormitory living space.
Voigt Classroom Building
Voigt Classroom Building was the second building on campus. It is here that most faculty offices are located and most classes are held. The building mirrors the appearance of Beam Hall, the original seminary building which sits adjacent to Voigt on the Seminary Quadrangle. Along the hallways of the building are portraits of Emeriti Faculty and past winners of the Cauble Award, given to one outstanding faculty member each year.
Virginia W. Casey Center,
Stavros Lecture Hall and Branham Conference Room
This high-tech building houses two meeting areas for classes and lectures. Stavros Lecture Hall is a large raised-seating auditorium that is filled with modern audio-visual equipment. The room accommodates the largest crowds of any room on campus, and is the host of many classes and guest lectures throughout the year. Also the Branham Conference Room is setup for video and audio conferences and meetings, as well as an intimate place for classes and group meetings.
Christ Chapel
Dedicated in 1967, Christ Chapel is the centerpiece of the campus and is located on the Seminary Quad. The chapel interior is filled with the sound of the Fisher Flentrop Organ, a 10' x 8' hand-carved teakwood altar cross, marble, granite, and crab-orchard stonework, and stain glass masterpieces. The west wall of the interior/front wall of the exterior is the Pentecost Window from which the seminary logo is derived.
Reinartz Hall
Reinartz Hall in the undercroft of Christ Chapel. This multi-use room has a stage, kitchenette, and open area that is the frequent home of banquets and presentations. On the walls are the class photographs for almost every graduating class since the late 19th century. The photographs are a popular destination for visitors to the campus, as they search for photos of their pastors and friends from years gone by.
Campus Union
The Campus Union is home to the Refectory (our term for cafeteria), the Augsburg Fortress Bookstore, Mail Room, and most importantly the student and faculty lounges. Here students can relax on the leather couches or play a game of air hockey between classes. The faculty lounge is also a popular room for luncheons and meetings.
Smith Family Village
Built in the late 1990s, the Smith Family Village houses seminarians and families in a gated environment. Complete with a playground and cookout area, the village is a great place for kids of all ages to gather and live. In the center of the area is the Harbinson Room, a multi-use facility used for small group meetings and study sessions.
Trinity Labyrinth
The Trinity Labyrinth was dedicated in 2007, with primary funding for the project coming from Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC. It is a permanent outdoor replica of the circuitous path inlaid into the nave floor of 13th century Chartres Cathedral in France, and a work of art in its own right. Students and the surrounding neighborhood use the labyrinth for meditation and prayer. Read More
Pecan Grove
The Pecan Grove on North Main Street not only welcomes visitors to campus and offers the seminary and its surrounding neighborhood a place to relax and play, it is the home field of the "Fighting Doves" flag-football team. Each fall the team practices on Friday afternoon to prepare for November's Luther Bowl in Gettysburg, PA against other seminaries.
Yost Administrative Building
Named after John Yost, former seminary president, the building is home forbusiness affairs and technology departments of the seminary. The seminary receptionist is located at the entrance of the building and is happy to answer any questions you may have about the seminary.
Lineberger Memorial Library
The library was built in 1975 and is winner of the National Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects. There are over 100,000 volumes and 400 periodical subscriptions. For a quiet moment, try relaxing in the rocking chairs overlooking the pecan grove. Past President portraits line the entryway, a constant reminder of our rich history at Southern Seminary. The building is also home to the Region 9 Archives and the Student Computer Lab.
Price House
This old plantation house was used as the library prior to 1975. The building now is home to the administrative offices of the seminary and also houses faculty offices and campus security. President Miller invites visitors to come in and stop by his office to say hello anytime he is there.
Hillcrest Apartments
The newest addition to our on-campus student housing (opened in 2005) features ten attractive buildings, landscaping, a children's play area, community outdoor cooking area, and on-site parking. Located just off of Arlington Street, the Hillcrest Apartments are just across from the library and the seminary's pecan grove.
President's House
The President's House on North Main Street is located just across the street from the main entrance of the seminary . This brick building is just a short stroll from the center of campus, a convenience for the long hours required for the position.
