Constructed from 1920 to 1922 as the first building on The Citadel's new site but demolished and replaced from 2000 to 2004, the barracks serves as the living quarters for up to 560 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.

[1] By the early 1900s, The Citadel was outgrowing its location at what is now Marion Square, and the business center of the city of Charleston had established itself on one corner of the existing campus.

As a result, the city of Charleston and the state of South Carolina agreed to move the college to a portion of Hampton Park along the Ashley River.

[1] After many renovations to modernize the facility, including converting all rooms into living spaces, by 2000 school officials had decided to demolish Padgett-Thomas Barracks instead of repairing problems.

The building's appearance is based on the original structure, but utilizes modern construction techniques to provide protection against hurricanes and seismic events.