Historic Dorm Comes Down As HBCU Makes Room For Its Future
For 64 years, Liston Hall stood on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the walls of an HBCU landmark in Charlotte, NC, began coming down. JCSU officially started demolishing the historic residence hall on July 29. The HBCU described the moment as both the end of an era and another step toward its “New Era of Excellence.” That makes the demolition more than a campus construction update. At HBCUs, buildings often carry a meaning that extends well beyond brick and concrete. They hold stories about who was allowed to attend college, where Black students found community, and how small institutions built lasting legacies with limited resources. However, history cannot protect