2024 Preservation Awards | Longstreet Theatre
Thursday, May 16th 2024
WINNER | Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (commercial, institutional, rental, or municipal)
Longstreet Theatre | 1300 Greene Street
University of South Carolina — Property Owner
Midwest Maintenance Inc. — Contractor
Meadors, Inc. — Architect & Preservation Consultant
Originally called College Hall at its completion in 1855, Longstreet Theatre ranks among Columbia’s most iconic historic buildings and is arguably one of the best examples of Greek Revival architecture in the capital city. For nearly 170 years, the temple-like landmark building has served as a Civil War military hospital, a Reconstruction-era arsenal and armory, science classrooms and laboratories, a gymnasium, and, since 1977, as a theatre in the round.
Deteriorating character-defining elements prompted the University of South Carolina to work with Charleston-based Meadors, Inc., which conducted a comprehensive analysis of material composition and conditions that guided the restoration of existing details and replication of missing components.
Existing parts of the cypress architrave, which suffered from extensive rot, were repaired and replacement pieces fabricated based on the original materials. The intricate cast iron Corinthian capitals adorning the building’s columns required the replication of eleven cast iron acanthus leaves. Pediment restoration involved removal of an inappropriate 1970s-era casement window and the installation of a circular sash fashioned after consulting archival images. Restoration of Corinthian elements on the east elevation involved stabilizing existing and replicating missing sections composed of terra cotta and stucco, in addition to securing elements with stainless steel hardware as an alternative to deteriorated original iron fasteners.
As many as 24 layers of paint were removed from the building’s stuccoed exterior, and petrographic stucco analysis determined the recipe for compatible materials used in repairing the building’s parged walls. Cross-section paint microscopy informed the building’s restorative finish scheme. All work performed on this National Register of Historic Places site adhered to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Before & After
Images courtesy Meadors, Inc.
Explore the
Economic Impact Study
This study's findings reinforce our long-held position on the importance of historic preservation for the city's economy and support our work advocating for policies that encourage preservation and the reuse of historic buildings. Columbia’s architectural heritage is not simply an exercise in nostalgia; it is an informed, strategic investment in the future.
