The campus of Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is once again evolving—this time through subtraction rather than addition. Demolition began last week on the building located at the corner of 4th and Front Street, a structure that has played a significant role in the college’s history under various names, including the Academic and Student Center.
This change marks the end of an era for a building that has been central to the college’s growth since 1971, when the Orange community raised over $250,000 to purchase the former Sabine Supply Company and bowling alley, transforming it into a center for higher education after fire destroyed LSCO’s first extension center at the former Tilley Elementary School.
“The legislative appropriations from the state for the new Academic Building included funding to demolish the old academic center,” said Daniel McLemore, LSCO Director of Communications. “In its place will be a new parking lot and green space to better serve our students and visitors.”
In a show of community-minded stewardship, LSCO ensured that furnishings and contents from the building—including desks, chairs, and cabinets—were offered to local school districts and nonprofit organizations for continued use before demolition began.
The demolition paves the way for continued improvements to the student experience and reflects LSCO’s ongoing mission to modernize its campus while honoring the legacy of those who helped shape its foundation more than five decades ago.