Support Us Button Widget

Gateway 737 opens as USC’s largest student housing project

With 940 beds and rooftop views, Gateway 737 marks a major milestone in USC’s campus-adjacent growth.

Gateway 737-0167 2 Medium.png

Gateway 737, USC’s new 650,000-sqft student housing and retail complex, rises beside Colonial Life Arena. | Photo by COLAtoday

650,000 — that’s the square footage of Gateway 737, the new student living and retail development next to Colonial Life Arena in the Vista. With a ~$170 million price tag, it’s the largest single investment in the USC Development Foundation’s history.

Formerly home to USC intramural sports fields, the complex features:

  • 311 fully furnished apartments
  • 940 beds across one- to four-bedroom units
  • Rooftop lounge + resort-style pool
  • Two-story fitness center
  • 42,000 sqft of study and collaboration space

The development is fully leased, and residents begin moving in later this month ahead of USC’s first day of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

The ground-level retail includes Knowledge Perk Coffee, the second Columbia location for the Rock Hill-based coffee shop, a Chick-fil-A, and Domino’s Pizza. Roxanne’s Market, an Irmo market led by Chef Saul, will also open a downtown location in the complex.

The ground-level retail includes Knowledge Perk Coffee, the second Columbia location for the Rock Hill-based coffee shop, a Chick-fil-A, and Domino’s Pizza. Roxanne’s Market, an Irmo market led by Chef Saul, will also open a downtown location in the complex.

“Gateway 737 is a transformational development that delivers on the Foundation’s mission to support the university through real estate investments that benefit students, the institution, and the community,” said Foundation President Jason Caskey. The project also brings to life priorities outlined in USC’s 2018 Campus Master Plan — supporting growth towards the Congaree River, mixed-use density, and academic hubs in student districts.

Three floors of Gateway 737 house the new Idea Center, a 44,000-sqft collaboration hub designed by Garvin Design Group and built by Hood Construction. Featuring two 400-seat flex spaces, meeting rooms, a craft room, and event space overlooking Colonial Life Arena, the center will host academic and community programming.

More from COLAtoday
Columbia readers shared their wish list of new businesses they’d like to see in the Midlands.
Don’t be afraid. Concerns about everything from flood damage to environmental health can be solved by getting in touch not with the Ghostbusters, but with these Midlands resources.
Including gifts for significant others, retirees, holiday parties, young people, and gifts that ship fast.
Vista Lights returns Nov. 20 with live music, local vendors, and the annual tree lighting to kick off Columbia’s holidays.
Celebrate spooky season with Halloween happenings around Columbia, from trunk-or-treat trails to eerie zoo nights and family carnivals.
Get out your rolling pins + roll up those sleeves, Soda Citizens because the South Carolina Gingerbread House Competition is back with its annual gingerbread house competition benefit.
USC’s Homecoming Weekend returns Oct. 24–26 with events, tailgates, and a Saturday showdown vs. Alabama.
Methodical Coffee is now soft open in Columbia’s BullStreet District, serving drinks while its bakery nears completion.
Voodoo Brewing Co. Lexington will host a grand opening on Friday, Nov. 7, serving Pennsylvania-brewed craft beers, local food, and hosting community events downtown.
New SC license plates feature the Moultrie Flag and the phrase “Where the Revolutionary War Was Won.”