2019 Preservation Award Winners
Wednesday, May 1st 2019
We're excited to announce the recipients of our 2019 Preservation Awards!
Each May, in conjunction with National Preservation Month, we present these awards to celebrate the accomplishments of local property owners; professionals in the fields of architecture, construction and design; and leaders who champion preservation as an opportunity to support the Midlands’ economy and culture. These awards, presented on Wednesday, May 1 at our annual Preservation Awards Luncheon, encourage and promote the importance of local preservation.
“Congratulations to our 2019 Preservation Award recipients for leading the way in preserving Columbia’s built history for future generations. While we can use our research and experience to craft the case for preservation – these leaders in preservation are the ones who provide the financial, creative and sweat equity to make the advocacy worth it.” — Robin Waites, Executive Director
Historic Columbia honored the following recipients in the areas of Preservation Leadership, Preservation/Restoration, Adaptive Use and New Construction in a Historic Context. See photos of this year's award winning projects.
Preservation Leadership Award
Award Overview
Nominations in this category will recognize an individual, corporation, governmental agency, community or neighborhood association that has contributed to the advancement of historic preservation in the region.
2019 Winner
Ward One Organization
Ward One Organization
In 1991, a group of former Ward One residents—A.J. and Beatrice Richardson, Veola Chatman, Odell and Viola Jackson, Homer and Billie Kennedy, William “Zeke” and Ethel Mary Workman Rawlinson and James H. “Jimbo”—often saw each other at gatherings, meetings, and funerals. Inevitably, when together, someone would reminisce about the old Ward – they would talk about people, places, events – recalling with fondness their neighborhood that was largely erased by “urban renewal” in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. It was during those discussions that the idea of having a reunion to both bring people together and share stories was born. Led by the first president Beatrice Richardson, the Ward One Organization began to meet monthly and held the first reunion in 1992. Their mantra was “We’re Still Not Done with the Old Ward One!” Since that first reunion, the organization has become a force for advocacy and awareness. Their goals are to foster awareness of the significance of Ward One and to actively pursue tangible ways to memorialize the legacies of the community’s descendants.
Adaptive Use
Award Overview
Structures rehabilitated with sensitivity to the historic fabric that function in a way that is different from its original intent.
2019 Winners
- 1206 Scott Street
- Columbia Fire Station (1001 Senate Street)
- Hotel Trundle/Boudreaux (1224 Taylor Street)
- Phoenix/Marks Building (1623-25 Main Street)
1206 Scott St
Owner: Landplan Group
Architect: Jeff Lewis AIA
Contractor: Montgomery Construction
A formerly abandoned garage-turned-office space, this 1960s-era brick structure in Cottontown underwent major restoration in 2017. Exterior sheet metal cladding, interior vinyl tiling, and a drop ceiling were all stripped away to reveal the site’s original character. This once-overlooked warehouse is now a showpiece in the burgeoning Cottontown district.
Columbia Fire Station (1001 Senate St)
Owner: Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, LLC
Architect: Lambert Architecture + Construction Services
Contractor: SouthCon Building Group, LLC
Constructed between 1949 and 1951and closed in 1995, this former fire station served the heart of Downtown Columbia including the Congaree Vista and Ward One communities. Along with an extensive cleaning and restoration of exterior stone and brickwork, heavily-deteriorated metal windows underwent lead abatement and were carefully restored. A new rooftop deck was added, as well as new rolltop doors. The site now functions as a mixed-use retail space.
Hotel Trundle/Boudreaux (1224 Taylor St/1519 Sumter St)
Owner: Sumter LLC
Architect: The Boudreaux Group
Contractor: Mashburn Construction
Interior Design: POND & Company
The buildings that housed Powell Furniture, Western Auto and Rose-Talbert Paint store (built in 1920, 1914, and 1940 respectively) now serve as headquarters for a boutique hotel and architecture firm. Each of the projects’ three facades were carefully restored to their original appearances. New signage was created to emulate the feel of the original marquee.
Phoenix/Marks Building (1623-1625 Main St)
Owner: G. Scott Middleton
Architect: Lambert Architecture + Construction Services
Contractor: Mashburn Construction
Built by Julian Selby in 1866, 1625 Main was one of the first buildings constructed after the Civil War. It became the headquarters of the former Phoenix newspaper. Using historic photographs, project architects recreated the site’s original doors, columns, windows and surrounds, as well as balcony and balcony rail. The site is now home to retail space on the first floor and residential spaces upstairs.
Preservation/Restoration
Award Overview
Historically significant structures restored to their original design and function.
2019 Winners
- Cyberwoven (1634 Main Street)
- Kensington Mansion (4001 McCords Ferry Road)
- Olympia Mill Museum (1170 Olympia Avenue)
- Wesley United Methodist Church (1725 Gervais Street)
1634 Main Street (Cyberwoven)
Owner: Belser Five
Architect: MCA Architecture (Greenville)
Contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction
Built in the 1870s, the building that once housed JC Penny’s and Maxwell Furniture Building is another jewel in Main Street’s crown. Restorations began in late 2016 and involved reclaiming bricked window openings, removing 1980s EIFS stucco additions and waterproofing exposed, original brickwork. The interior’s wood floors, tin ceiling, terrazzo, and plaster walls were repaired. Once obscured by stucco, the site has been restored to reflect the rich mercantile history of the Main Street commercial corridor ca. 1937-1958.
Kensington Mansion (4001 McCords Ferry Road)
Owner: International Paper
Architect: Glenn Keyes Architects
Contractor: Huss Construction with Master of Plaster & Century Slate Roofing
International Paper originally purchased the Kensington property in the early 1980s when the home was being used to store farm equipment, fertilizer, and animal feed. For the next thirty years, the site saw various levels of public accessibility. After an ice storm severely damaged the mansion’s roof in 2014, preservationists successfully lobbied for a comprehensive restoration and rehabilitation. The scope of work was vast and included replacing the damaged roof, repairing and replacing ornamental plaster, replacing all light fixtures with period-appropriate replicas, recoating the front steps to their original brownstone color, servicing the HVAC system, and more.
Olympia Mill Museum (1170 Olympia Ave)
Owner: Olympia Granby Historical Foundation
Contractor: Mark Ullman Construction, LLC
When purchased in 2014 by the Olympia Granby Historical Foundation, the home at 1170 Olympia Ave (ca. 1901) had vinyl siding, vinyl windows, and the interior had been gutted down to the studs. Virtually none of the original plaster or trim survived. In the spirit of the home’s original use as Olympia Mill School, the OGHF restored the space for use as the Olympia Mill Village Museum. Its renovation was a multi-year effort which saw the installation of period-appropriate wooden windows, new floors, beaded panel ceilings, and new wiring.
Wesley United Methodist Church (1725 Gervais St)
Owner: Wesley United Methodist Church
Architect: The Boudreaux Group
Contractor: Weathers Contracting Company, Inc.
The church at 1725 Gervais Street is home to the oldest African American Methodist congregation in Columbia. Following a collapsed ceiling in 2015, WUMC began an extensive fundraising campaign to stabilize their ca. 1910 sanctuary building. Exterior work addressed masonry concerns, restoration of the stained-glass windows, and the installation of a new roof. Brick-by-brick, old mortar was removed and replaced with new specially-formulated mortar in the basement to mitigate water intrusion. The sanctuary carpeting was removed, and the wooden floors were restored.
New Construction in a Historic Context
Award Overview
New buildings in an historic district adjacent to or within existing historic structures that complement the historic context.
2018 Winner
- Central Energy Facility (2030 Gregg Street)
- Columbia SC Visitors Center (1101 Lincoln Street)
Central Energy Facility (2030 Gregg St)
Owner: Central Energy
Architect: Garvin Design Group
Contractor: Hammer Construction
This industrial building originally provided heating and cooling to the entire South Carolina Department of Mental Health campus. Abandoned in 2005, the 12,731 square foot structure sat dark and unused until 2017. The existing machinery was removed in order to open the space. The three iconic smoke stacks, however, were preserved and rest atop specially-designed streel struts which have become a defining characteristic of the space. They serve as a reminder that the BullStreet campus has not always been one of retail and offices. The site is now home to Downtown Church and is available as a rental venue.
Columbia SC Visitors Center (1101 Lincoln St)
Owner: Experience Columbia SC
Architect: Garvin Design Group
Contractor: Mashburn Construction
Described by neighbors and architects as a “jewel box,” this new addition to the Vista both compliments its historic contest and provides an easily accessible, highly-visible entrée point to the city. The new Visitors Center honors both the building’s context and provides modern amenities. Exposed structure on the interior of the building references the historic Lincoln Street canopy outside. A large planter and seat wall create a gathering space at the corner of Gervais and Lincoln Streets while at the same time providing monumental signage for the Visitors Center. It is at once highly visible and complimentary to the district’s existing characteristics.
