By Britni Bateman
More than 250 Salukis and community members gathered Wednesday, Aug. 6, as Southern Illinois University Carbondale launched Demolition Day and took a bold step toward transforming its campus housing landscape.
“This isn’t just about buildings coming down, it’s about honoring the past while building toward the future,” said Chancellor Austin A. Lane.
The SIU Foundation hosted the event to celebrate the start of Phase 1 demolition of six long-vacant residence halls along the former Greek Row. Guests enjoyed live music from River Radio’s Steve FM and complimentary food from local vendors, including Winston’s Bagels by B-Rad, Honeybeez Snowballz and Hot Dogs, and the American Ice Cream Truck.
SIU System President Dan Mahony, SIU Board of Trustees Chair Judge J. Phil Gilbert, members of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors, and university leaders joined students, faculty, staff, and community members at the event. Lane, SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeff Burgin delivered remarks.
“These buildings served generations of students, and while their time has passed, the memories created here remain powerful,” Kupec said. “We’re not just tearing down buildings, we’re building on the shoulders of those memories.”
Originally known as Small Group Housing when dedicated in 1959, the area became known as Greek Row in the 1980s. Many SIU fraternities and sororities called the halls home through the early 2000s. Due to safety regulations, including a 2004 Illinois law requiring fire sprinkler retrofits in dorms, the halls were officially closed in 2012.
“We’re standing on hallowed ground,” Burgin said. “For many Salukis, joining a fraternity or sorority was a transformative part of their college experience. We honor those moments as we imagine what’s next.”
“Today’s demolition is part of a vision that started years ago through Imagine 2030, our strategic plan to reimagine the future of campus,” Lane said. “This is what progress looks like.”
As the ceremony concluded, the crowd counted down together. An excavator crashed through the roof of Fulkerson Hall, drawing cheers as the building’s first wall gave way.
Phase 1 includes the demolition of six buildings: Colyer, Kaplan, Thalman, Fulkerson, Kesnar, and Wakeland Halls, with work expected to be completed by mid-September. A second phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in December, pending approval from the SIU Board of Trustees.
The SIU Foundation is funding environmental studies, demolition, and early site preparation through a bridge loan. The foundation will temporarily relocate from Colyer Hall to University Hall before moving into the new Tedrick Welcome Center in spring 2026.
The demolition project reflects the university’s ongoing momentum to modernize and reimagine its campus footprint. SIU recently earned dual recognition as both a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University, making it one of only 21 universities nationwide — and the only one serving a rural area — to receive both honors. These distinctions align with the goals of Imagine SIU 2030, a comprehensive fundraising campaign that has raised more than $409 million toward its $500 million goal. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.
The event offered space for reflection and tribute, with several former residents in the audience. Alumni shared memories on social media and through the SIU Foundation’s website, recalling friendships, late-night walks to class, and the sense of belonging Greek Row once fostered. To share your Greek Row memories, visit siuf.org/greek-row.