Considered one of the most ambitious projects the school has undertaken in years, a $35 million expansion plan by Southern College of Optometry (SCO) will bring major changes to its campus and neighboring patient clinic.

"This project is not only an investment in future students and the longevity of SCO, but it's also an investment in the Greater Memphis community, which has been home to us since our founding nearly a century ago," George Miller, SCO vice president for institutional advancement, told Construction Equipment Guide. "We're proud to be based in Memphis, where medical innovations are being made every day, and different walks of life come together through the city's rich culture and history.

"Our classroom tower has become a recognizable element of the Memphis skyline, so pursuing a project of this magnitude solidifies our commitment to this community for the institution's second century."

The project will be completed in two phases. Phase I calls for expanding The Eye Center's capabilities by constructing a new adjoining pediatric care clinic.

"This project is the largest campus expansion we've undergone since 2012," Miller explained. "It will bring major enhancements for student life, our patients' experiences and for the surrounding environment. Upon completion, SCO's on-campus patient clinic, The Eye Center, will have a new dedicated space for pediatric care, allowing providers to treat a larger volume of patients annually for a range of needs, from basic eye exams to complex eye diseases and injuries."

The not-for-profit SCO currently enrolls more than 500 students and remains among the nation's top optometry schools. The Eye Center provides care to nearly 50,000 patients annually.

"It provides uncompensated care to uninsured and underinsured families, so this additional space enables us to efficiently serve a greater number of patients, both pediatric and adult, and bridge gaps for those with limited access to vision care."

Miller said construction will bring new amenities for students.

"It will feature a new library, study areas, an outdoor terrace and mezzanine and a coffee shop. Our students spend most of their days on campus, so we wanted to provide more comfortable options for them to study, work together in groups, or wind down between classes and clinics."

The entrance to the 11-story classroom tower, where most classes and labs are held, will be updated. The lobby will be extended toward the city street to create a more seamless entryway for campus members and visitors and feature more natural light. It also will bring more visibility to the campus from the street.

"People in our community have expressed enthusiasm and support for this project since the day we broke ground," Miller stated. "The construction activity also piques the curiosity and interest of many passersby who can see it from the surrounding streets."

Work began in early May 2026, with construction of the first phase expected to be complete in 2028.

The two phases will overlap for much of the project, in order to minimize interruptions to campus activity during the fall and spring semesters.

Miller said SCO has launched a capital campaign to support the design and construction.

"The Greater Vision Campaign is about pairing first-class education with first-class facilities. We've secured more than $7 million in grants and donations from generous benefactors and alumni who are investing in the success of future students and the end of access-to-care gaps in the Mid-South."

Hoar Construction serves as contractor on the project. When asked by Construction Equipment Guide about the main challenges on the job, Hoar project manager Stephen Anderson acknowledged working in a confined space is never easy.

"Logistics are always a challenge in urban environments, but this project adds unique complexity. It's an active campus with an operational eye clinic and a tight site with limited access. Existing buildings border two sides of the new construction, and we can't put crane loads on those structures while the third side is an active parking lot that must stay open. We work from essentially one side, using larger cranes with the reach to cover the whole building.

"With no room for onsite staging, every delivery is scheduled just in time, and our crews park offsite to keep campus parking open. The tower work takes the same level of planning. We're building the new lobby addition first, and opening it before the interior renovations begin, so students and faculty never lose access to the elevators."

Anderson noted the early phases have moved quickly.

"We've completed demolition of the existing site elements, located and relocated utilities and finished mass excavation for the new building. Behind the scenes, months of preconstruction planning, procurement of long-lead materials, and coordination with SCO, Grace Design Studios and our trade partners set the stage for that fast start."

The construction team is currently prepping the building pad for the new academic and eye clinic expansion. In mid-July, crews began soil improvements.

"Due to the soil composition at the site, traditional footings alone wouldn't be sufficient to carry the load of the new building, so rammed aggregate piers will be installed beneath each footing before concrete is placed," said Anderson. "A drill rig bores a hole to a specific depth, then fills it with stone aggregate, ramming the stone into place as it goes, essentially strengthening the ground itself before we build on it."

At the tower, demolition of the existing lobby has begun, with foundations for the new lobby starting in early August.

The project required tearing down the existing site elements before site work began. The tower phase involves selective demo removing the existing lobby, gutting the first floor and rebuilding the level two lecture room.

"Everything follows engineered demolition plans, and sequencing is critical," said Anderson. "We build the new lobby addition first and open it up to maintain elevator access, then turn to the interior renovations."

Anderson explained how constructing the new, adjoining pediatric care clinic is a multi-step process.

"First is the foundation work, which includes rammed aggregate piers to reinforce the soil. Second is the structure itself, a mix of concrete and steel. Third is the exterior skin composed mostly of precast concrete panels and glass curtainwall, topped by a curved standing seam metal roof, with membrane roofing at the connectors to the existing buildings. Finally, we move inside for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, followed by interior finishes which is the phase that transforms it from a building into a clinic.

"Throughout every phase, we're working closely with SCO to minimize disruption to the operating campus, including managing sound and vibration restrictions so that classes, clinics and patient care can continue uninterrupted right next door."

The most specialized work on this project is the building connections. The new building ties into two separate existing buildings, which requires careful coordination to align structures, match floor elevations and maintain weathertight connections while minimizing any disruption to campus activities.

"With site demolition and mass excavation complete, the major work is just getting under way," said Anderson. "Key milestones ahead include soil improvements and foundations, topping out the structure, getting the building enclosed and weathertight and bringing the mechanical and electrical systems online. The community will start to see the building take shape quickly. That's always an exciting phase."

For the wide variety of work being performed, crews use a mix of heavy equipment, including excavators and loaders during site work and foundations; mobile cranes to erect the structure and set precast concrete panels; and telehandlers and lifts as the building goes vertical. Because the site allows access only from one side, the cranes will be larger than typically used for a building of this size.

The finished product will be a concrete and steel structure, with an exterior of precast concrete panels and glass, topped by a standing seam metal roof. Inside, crews will use metal stud framing with a variety of finishes designed to create a modern, welcoming environment. The glass exterior complements the new façade planned for SCO's tower, giving the whole campus along Madison Avenue a cohesive, updated look.

Anderson added that Hoar Construction is deeply honored to play a small role in something that will have a large impact on the community.

"At the end of the day, this project isn't about steel and concrete. It's about the children, families and students whose lives will be touched by SCO. SCO has been serving Memphis for generations, and helping build the next chapter of that legacy is a privilege our entire team doesn't take lightly. We are grateful to be part of it." CEG