Johnson C. Smith University Demolishes Historic Liston Hall After 64 Years

After standing for 64 years on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), Liston Hall began its final chapter on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The historic residence hall in Charlotte, NC, started coming down as the HBCU officially launched demolition of the landmark building, marking what the university described as both the end of an era and another step toward its “New Era of Excellence.”

For generations of Golden Bulls, Liston Hall represented more than just a place to sleep. At HBCUs, buildings carry meaning that extends well beyond brick and concrete — they hold stories about where Black students found community and how small institutions built lasting legacies with limited resources.

A Symbol of Growth and Investment

The residence hall opened in 1962 during a major expansion period at Johnson C. Smith. According to JCSU’s official history, the construction boom also included Brayboy Gymnasium, Duke Memorial Library, and the University Memorial Union. The university built the residence hall with support from The Duke Endowment and named it in memory of Dr. Hardy Liston, who served as JCSU president from 1947 until his death in 1956.

Liston Hall initially housed women before later becoming a men’s residence hall. Yet its importance could not be measured by capacity alone. Dormitories create a culture within the culture of an HBCU campus — they are where students learn the personalities, traditions, and unwritten rules of college life.

Alumni Share Cherished Memories

In its announcement of the demolition, JCSU shared personal memories from alumni who experienced Liston Hall during different periods.

I matured during my Liston years. I became a woman there, surrounded by sisters.

Calvin Banks, a 1969 graduate, recalled another side of the Liston Hall experience. He remembered male students entering the lobby and telling the dormitory directress which young woman they had come to see. The visitor then waited as the resident was paged. She might come downstairs. She might send a roommate with an excuse. When she finally appeared, Banks said, “all is right in the world.”

Those details are small, but that is what makes them meaningful. The lasting memories of a residence hall are rarely about its design — they are about who lived there, who waited in the lobby, and who stayed up talking when they should have been studying.

Looking Toward the Future

JCSU has not announced exactly what will replace the residence hall. The university said clearing the site will make way for future campus improvements, with plans focused on spaces designed to improve student life, strengthen community, and support academic success.

The university sits just west of Uptown Charlotte in a Historic West End community that continues to experience development and change. Charlotte has grown around JCSU, and now the university must determine how to grow within Charlotte without losing the history that makes its campus distinct.

The university plans to preserve photographs and video of the demolition. Alumni will preserve the rest through stories about roommates, friendships, lobby visits, and the years when Liston was home. The building is coming down, but its place in Johnson C. Smith’s history is not.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.