For many students on campus, the Alpha Hall Complex is a distant memory. It was one of the many buildings on South’s campus in which classes were held, and it was home to the Army ROTC Program. Historically, the Alpha East and Alpha South Halls made up the university’s first residence hall complex. In late 2023, these older buildings were demolished to make room for a new Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Alpha dorms took place in October 1965, two years after the university was founded. In 1967, construction was completed.

In a 1968 article published in “The Vanguard,” contributing writer Margina Koolman said that living in the residence halls at the time was an “experience.”

“Just ask any student living on campus how he or she likes living in the residence halls. We all agree that the University of South Alabama residence halls have a good thing going. You might even think about joining us,” Koolman said.

For almost a decade, the Alpha Hall Complex stood as the University’s sole residence hall until the construction of the Gamma Dorms in 1976. 

At the time the article was written, 400 students lived on campus. That number has since grown to more than 2,400. 

This may raise the question, “How could the university part ways with a building that held such historical value?” According to an article on al.com, prior to the demolition of the Alpha Hall Complex, the university sought to simply renovate and expand the current medical school facility. This renovation plan was estimated to cost around $120 million.  However, after considering the potential disruptions to ongoing medical research and the restrictions of renovating an “outdated” medical school, the university decided that it would be best to start from scratch. 

In the same article, USA President Jo Bonner stated, “It began to make all the sense in the world. It will be a little bit expensive to do it, but it’s going to be done right.” The project is now estimated to total around $200 million.

The new medical school is expected to grace South’s campus in 2026. Soon after, the current College of Medicine will be torn down. As for the Alpha Hall Complex, its legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of former USA students.