The Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center combines tradition and innovation to showcase the Clemson Experience and propel it Fiercely Forward
Where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness is a new home for the Clemson Family. Perched on the banks of Lake Hartwell beside the John E. Walker Sr. Golf Course, the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center has officially opened its doors to the Clemson University community. Offering striking views of the lake, the five-story, 98,000-square-foot facility symbolizes what it means to be part of the Clemson Family: rooted in tradition, fueled by innovation and united in purpose.
Funded in part by a transformational $12.5 million gift from Michael ’86 and Robyn HA ’20 of the Nieri family, the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center is a hub for the Clemson Family, welcoming prospective Tigers, serving current students, honoring alumni legacies and igniting Clemson’s bold future. Along with the Nieri family’s generous gift, many Clemson donors supported the project, contributing to the collective vision to create a dynamic community space.
If there’s no place like home, there’s also no place like the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center. Read on to learn about how the new building is serving the Clemson Family.
A Place to Begin and Belong
In a shared commitment to elevating the Clemson Experience, the Clemson Alumni Association and the Clemson University Foundation jointly invested in interactive technology on the first floor of the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center, enriching engagement for Tigers and guests. Interactive screens in the Brown Family Lobby and beside the Creel Family Auditorium set the stage for prospective students beginning campus tours, highlighting the experiences of Clemson students. Interactive screens curated by the Alumni Association are a window into tradition and include digitized issues of Taps, the historic annual yearbook, and an overview of Alumni Association awards. Across from the Alumni Association offices are two event spaces: the Holcombe Family Engagement Room and the outdoor Turner Family Loggia, where guests, staff and faculty mingle over their shared love of Clemson. The Ever Loyal Conference Room, a gift from the Ayers family, is also on this floor.
Recognizing Meaningful Commitments
Two pillars outside the new center stand as lasting tributes to people who help make Clemson home. David Smoley ’85 and Kathy Yon Smoley ’86 named the Family Pillar to honor their multigenerational Clemson legacy, including three children who graduated and married fellow alumni. The Visionary Pillar recognizes the past presidents of the Clemson Alumni Association, whose leadership and service have strengthened alumni ties and advanced the Association’s mission. Another feature, the Donor Wall, recognizes more than 60 generous Clemson families, individuals and organizations who provided philanthropic support at many different levels to bring this facility to life. The newly installed Clemson Ring statues celebrate one of the University’s most cherished traditions, symbolizing the pride, achievement and lifelong connection shared by generations of Tigers.
Elevating Student Success
On the second floor, the Center for Career and Professional Development helps students dive into their careers, while the Office of Admissions serves future Tigers. Career counseling appointments from one of the nation’s top career services programs provide students with career assessments, document reviews and interview assistance. Soundproof booths offer quiet, private spaces for job interviews and preparation, while the Clothing Closet provides students with professional attire for job interviews. Meanwhile, the Office of Admissions is busy at work, guiding prospective students to their new home away from home.
Investing in the Future
Thomas Green Clemson’s signature spans a wall inside the new home for the Clemson University Foundation and Advancement Division. Beneath the signature, the words “The Power of One Gift” remind visitors that every act of generosity contributes to a larger mission — one rooted in the legacy of Clemson’s vision in the promises of higher education and service to South Carolina. The third floor hosts staff, donors, volunteers and campus leaders driving progress and investing in the people and programs that propel Clemson Fiercely Forward. Conference rooms include the Carr Family Conference Room, Goodman Family Room and Foster Roach Family Room.
Leading with Purpose
The fourth floor is now home to the Board of Trustees, complete with staff offices, the Wong Family Room, the Clemson Family Room, gifted by Ashley Johnson ’89, which is a private, state-of-the-art boardroom, and two terraces: the Mary Warner Mack Terrace and the McKissick Family Terrace. The sweeping terraces offer a view of nearly every building on campus, serving as a reminder of the research, education and opportunities that ignite purpose and transform lives on campus and beyond.
A Community Hub
Downstairs, the ground floor brings together golf, dining and shopping. The Clark Family Pro Shop supports the golf course and sells Clemson merchandise, while the Duckworth Family Bistro, known as the Lucky Duck Bistro, offers breakfast, handhelds, burgers and more. On this floor, families pause as their prospective Tigers tour campus. Golfers share a meal after a round on the course. Alumni reminisce after taking a deep dive into the interactive screens. Visitors walk the Golden Tiger Lane, a gift from the Class of 1975, and admire the forthcoming Tiger Statue, a gift from the Classes of 1966, 1972 and 1974. All experience the Clemson Spirit firsthand.
Every corner of the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center was designed with intention, honoring the past, elevating the present and fueling a bold vision for Clemson’s future. As a gateway to campus and a hub for connection, it’s more than a building; it’s a home for every member of the Clemson Family.
Amanda Childers is a senior development writer in the Division of Marketing and Communications.
Photography by Ashley jones and Sydney Lykins ’19, M ’22. Architectural Illustrations Courtesy of Goodwyn Mills Cawood.
