Byrnes is named for James F. Byrnes, former S.C. governor and U.S. Secretary of State. While a U.S. senator, Byrnes arranged for Works Project Administration funds to be used with matching state funds to construct three campus buildings--the auditorium, Thurmond Building, and Macfeat Nursery School, now the Academic Computing Center. Byrnes exemplifies the monumental architectural style prevalent in Depression-era public buildings.