Padgett-Thomas Barracks

The iconic symbol of The Citadel, Padgett-Thomas Barracks was originally built in 1922. It was the first building constructed on the current campus in preparation for the college’s relocation from Marion Square. Until 2001 when it was demolished, it was the oldest building on campus. Structural problems forced its closure in 2000. A new barracks built to look just like the original building opened in August 2004. The barracks is named for Col. J. G. Padgett, a member of the Board of Visitors and an 1892 graduate, and for Col. John Pulaski Thomas, 1893, member of the Board of Visitors from 1915 to 1949 and its chairman from 1925 to 1949. The building, which serves as a model for all the barracks, is designed so that the center is a quadrangle onto which each room opens. There is a spiral stairway in each of the four corners. Adjacent to the east sally port is the guard room. The dominant feature of the barracks is the central tower that rises 109 feet and eight stories in the air to overlook the parade ground to the east. Padgett-Thomas Barracks is home to Second Battalion and houses Echo, Foxtrot, Golf and Hotel companies, and the Regimental Band and Pipes. The regimental commander and the regimental staff also live in Padgett-Thomas Barracks. The regimental commander is the top-ranked cadet from the senior class and is responsible for the 2,300 member Corps of Cadets. The regimental commander reports to the commandant, the retired military officer in charge of the Corps of Cadets.