Happy Holidays!

May your holiday season and new year
be full of LIGHT, prosperity and cheer.

Happy holidays from your friends at Liollio!

Liollio Celebrates 70 Years of Designing for Place

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As Liollio Architecture celebrates 70 years of designing for place, we honor our past and celebrate our future. We know that our longevity is a result of working with amazing clients, our collaborative process, our team culture, and our firm leadership. We also celebrate the career achievements and contributions of our second generation of leadership as they retire from architecture, C. Dinos Liollio, FAIA, LEED AP, and Rick L. Bousquet, AIA, LEED AP.

Celebrating 2025 AIA South Carolina Awards

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As we celebrate and reflect on 2025, we are grateful to our amazing clients who invest in thoughtful architecture to serve our communities! This year, AIA South Carolina recognized the National Park Service with an AIA South Carolina Framework for Design Excellence Award and an AIA South Carolina Merit Award for the design of NPS’s new USVI Lind Point Resource Management Science Facility and Housing. The College of Charleston was also recognized with an AIA South Carolina Honor Award for the renovation and expansion of the Simons Center for the Arts. We are honored to have collaborated with the National Park Service, The College of Charleston, and our project teams on these award-winning projects. Cheers to all who were recognized with AIA South Carolina Awards, acknowledging their vision and commitment to design excellence!

Liollio Celebrates Team 2025 Licensures!

Liollio celebrates the accomplishments of our team. We are pleased to announce Mason Malsegna and Hunter Thurlo have gained their professional architectural licensure. Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off. Congratulations from our entire team!

About Mason: Mason’s interest and research in sustainable, equitable, and resilient design methodologies, combined with his passion for social justice helps Liollio to produce equitable and thoughtful designs. His thought leadership and attention to detail have strengthened our design studio. Mason has served as Architectural Designer on projects of varying types and sizes, and he aspires to promote sustainable and resilient architecture through his involvement as Chair, and now as an active member of COTE South Carolina.

About Hunter: A key contributor to Liollio’s culture, Hunter plays an active role in the studio. Whether presenting in pinups, participating in charrettes, or engaging in critical project discussions, he brings balanced focus to both detail and overall massing. With a deep appreciation for sensible preservation, Hunter has a meticulous approach to historic materials and design. He believes that architecture should honor a community’s vernacular while embracing modern building technologies, bridging the past and present through design that is both respectful and forward-thinking.

AIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION AWARDS REFLECTION: COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SIMONS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

In this time of reflection, gratitude and celebration, Liollio is so grateful to our wonderful clients who invest in thoughtful buildings and spaces to serve our communities! This year, AIA South Atlantic Region recognized the College of Charleston with an AIA South Atlantic Region (SAR) ASPIRE Honor Award for the renovation and expansion of the Simons Center for the Arts. We are honored to have collaborated with the College, our friends at HGA, and our entire project team on this award-winning project. Exceptional projects are the result of collaboration with visionary clients!

Cheers to all who were recognized with 2025 AIA South Atlantic Region Awards, acknowledging their vision and commitment to design excellence. Liollio congratulates our colleagues, clients, and collaborators on these amazing accolades!

Ray Huff Inaugural Lecture Series: Cristina Verissimo & Diogo Burnay

Don’t miss out on next week's Ray Huff Inaugural Lecture Series, honoring the legacy of Associate Professor Emeritus Ray Huff FAIA, NOMA. Liollio Architecture is honored to have established this endowed series dedicated to enriching the educational experience of Clemson School of Architecture students by hosting distinguished speakers who will explore topics in critical design and innovative architectural practices. The inaugural lecture will feature Cristina Verissimo and Diogo Burnay of CVDB arquitectos, a critically acclaimed practice based in Lisbon, Portugal, focusing on the social role of public architecture in small communities. Hope to see you there! Eventbrite link here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT LIOLLIO!

Liollio’s Mary Tran Honored in CRBJ’s Forty Under 40 Awards

The Charleston Regional Business Journal recently hosted its annual Forty Under 40 event, celebrating this year’s outstanding honorees. We are thrilled to announce that Mary Tran, Associate AIA + IIDA, Project Designer, and Interior Designer was recognized as one of the award recipients!

Mary works with a diverse range of public and institutional clients, approaching each project as an opportunity to engage stakeholders and create spaces that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. Congratulations to Mary and all the 2025 Forty Under 40 honorees from everyone at Liollio Architecture!

Spotlight On: Carlos Vazquez

Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate and get to know them better. Our latest Spotlight On feature is Carlos Vazquez. Carlos joined the Liollio team this year and is a graduate of Bethel College in Kansas, where he earned his Bachelor of Industrial Arts. With a unique background of construction and architectural professional experience, Carlos brings a well-rounded perspective to the Liollio team. He has project expertise spanning a wide range of markets and a proven track record of successfully leading design and construction teams, delivering value, mitigating project risk, and exceeding client goals. We sat down for a Q+A session with our newest Spotlight On feature:

Where did you grow up?
All over – Born in NYC, where I went to elementary school, then moved to Puerto Rico, where I attended middle school, then moved to South Florida, where I attended high school, and then college in Kansas.

Are you married?
Yes, 25+ years to my wife Joanne

Do you have children? If so, tell us a bit about them.
Yes, three: Melissa (granddaughter Mea, 12); Natasha, an elementary school teacher & Brian, a high school teacher (granddaughter Eliana, 12 & grandson Connor, 9); and Antonio (Tony), a Major U.S .Army Foreign Area Officer & Tammie, a college counselor (granddaughter Catherine, 6 & grandson Arthur, 3).

What do you like to do for fun?
Anything outdoors - travel, exploring, boating, design-build, fixing something

Favorite place(s) to go locally?
Beach

Favorite restaurant?
Currently exploring!

Favorite food? 
Puerto Rican (Arroz con Pollo, Pasteles), Italian (Pizza, Lasagna), and Low Country Boil

Do you play any instruments?
No, I attempted piano and guitar, but it did not stick. Spanish tradition is the guitar.

What song is at the top of your most played list?
Hotel California by The Eagles, Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band, ,and I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing by Aerosmith

Favorite visual artist?
Salvador Dali

Favorite television show?
This Old House

Favorite podcast or blog?
What’s this? HAHAHA!

Favorite movie or genre?
Action/Adventure & Drama

Favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Monterey, CA, Washington D.C., Annapolis, MD, and Anchorage, AK

Favorite style of architecture?
Palladium Architecture (symmetry) refers to a classical architectural style that emerged during the Renaissance in Italy, particularly associated with the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio.

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you?
Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright - being able to envision design while walking on site, translating it to paper, then building it!

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to and why?
Driving the Southern U.S. Coast from Padre Island, Texas to Marco Island, Florida - meeting people and sharing foods and spirits with different cultures. 

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Me (for the money) 

If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
Lion, king of the jungle (hahaha), first grandchild-grandson on fathers’ side, Spanish culture 

Are you messy or organized?
More organized

What is your pet peeve?
Picking up after others. Clean up your mess! Don’t expect others to clean up your mess.

Guilty pleasure?
Ice Cream

Tell us a random fact. 
Outside linebacker with 4.59 speed

Favorite quote? 
“Do you feel lucky Punk?”  - A famous line from the 1971 film Dirty Harry, spoken by Clint Eastwood's character, Harry Callahan & "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - A line from the 1939 film Gone with the Wind starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
The Pope

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you save?
Family pictures 

What three traits characterize you?
Strength, love challenges, respectful, and honest. 

What’s your astrological sign?
Leo

What is your personal philosophy?
Always proceed with your best foot forward. Treat all with respect and dignity. Help others when in need.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Spouse and Family

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Being a single parent and learning you’re not superman.

What is your superpower?
Faith, belief in oneself, and helping others.

What inspires you most?
Life, adventure, people, and cultures.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
My kids

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The people

What does true leadership mean to you? 
Leading a group of people to accomplish a goal by Teamwork, mentoring

How do you define success?
My kids and grandkids – Teaching and pushing softly in a positive direction with love. Watching their success, education, and talents as individuals.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I’ve completed several MS150 bike rides. I’m an Executive Member on my Church Board. I managed church food coop distribution. I’ve been involved with numerous volunteer services. I never quit!

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Be strong and have faith! Take the next step! 

Liollio Team Members Reflect on 2025 AIA National Conference on Architecture

Each month, our studio gathers to share meaningful engagements and experiences that team members are actively involved in. Last month, several staff members reflected on their time at the 2025 AIA National Conference in Boston, MA. Their insights were both inspiring and energizing to the entire studio.

Ri Glal and William Scott shared: "Over the course of three days, we had the opportunity to meet incredibly talented architects, engage in impactful conversations around topics like climate justice and advocacy through architecture, explore an expo with hundreds of vendors, and experience the energy and charm of Boston."

We were also proud to see Matthew Ngango and Jared Cook, recent additions to the Liollio team, present at the COTE Open Forum. They shared insights from their award-winning 2024 COTE Top Ten for Students project, Alamihi Village, developed during their time at Clemson University. The project addresses the complex challenge of rebuilding in Lahaina, Maui, following one of the most devastating wildfires in U.S. history in August 2023. Centered on a 9-acre site at the edge of the affected area, Alamihi Village explores opportunities for cultural conservation, ecological restoration, and economic development.

Matthew and Jared reflected: “We’re grateful for the representatives from Liollio Architecture who joined us at the forum. As our first AIA conference, the experience extended beyond the event itself, including visits around Boston, inspiring talks, and engaging Expo showcases.”

Thank you to all who shared their takeaways from the conference, we acknowledge the passion and curiosity that drives our team and are excited to see how these findings are implemented into our work!

2025 SC Historic Preservation Awards Honors Rehabilitation of Old City Jail

For 30 years, Preservation South Carolina, the SC Department of Archives and History, and the Office of the Governor have recognized exceptional accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of architectural and cultural heritage with a series of statewide awards. We are honored to announce that the rehabilitation of Old City Jail was recently recognized with a 2025 SC Historic Preservation Honor Award.

Once neglected and at risk, this landmark has been carefully rehabilitated, balancing preservation and adaptive reuse. The restoration retained the Jail’s historic character while introducing thoughtful interventions, ensuring its continued use and stewardship.

Liollio would like to congratulate Landmark Enterprises, Charles Blanchard Construction, and our entire team on this amazing project that truly was a combination of head and heart.

For more information about Preservation South Carolina, visit www.preservesc.org.

The American Institute of Architects National Conference on Architecture (AIA25)

Recently, several Liollio team members attended The American Institute of Architects National Conference on Architecture in Boston (AIA25) where they were able to draw inspiration from keynote speakers, talented colleagues, catch up with friends, establish new connections, and discover and explore the city. Liollio’s Ri Glal had a great experience examining various components of architecture in a new lens; “For me, the conference emphasized that architecture is constantly evolving, and the identity of architecture is amplified by the past, present, and the future community of a given place.” It was an invigorating week, and those who attended are excited to share their experience and help implement insights into our current work.

Spotlight On: William Scott

Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate and get to know them better. Our latest Spotlight On feature is William Scott. William joined the Liollio team in 2024 and is a graduate of Clemson University, where he earned his Master of Architecture. His passion for architecture began in high school through the Carolina Alliance for Technology program, where he was first introduced to the practice of architecture, engineering, and sustainable principles. While attending Clemson, he joined a design-build program that gave him the chance to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, disciplines, and community members to bring a project to life - an experience that solidified his commitment to community-focused design. This path led him to Liollio, whose dedication to meaningful community engagement and thoughtful, inclusive design continues to inspire William’s work. We sat down for a Q+A session with our newest Spotlight On feature:

Where did you grow up?
Clinton, SC

Are you married?
In the works! Currently engaged and have been together for almost 7 years now.

Do you have children?
No, but we’d like to adopt eventually!

What do you like to do for fun?
I love to run, listen to podcasts, beach, xbox, and binge movies.

Favorite place(s) to go locally?
James Island County Park, Sullivans Island, Colonial Lake, Hampton Park

Favorite restaurant?
Xio Bao Biscuit

Favorite food?
JAPANESE!

Least favorite food?
Cucumbers. Ruins everything.

Do you play any instruments?
Sadly, no. One day I’ll learn how to play the violin though. It’s my favorite instrument to hear in songs.

What song is at the top of your most-played list?
Ribs by Lorde

Favorite musical artist or genre?
Indie/Alternative & Pop/House

Favorite visual artist?
My dear friend, Janie Holsten

Favorite television show?
RuPaul’s Drag Race or Survivor or Game of thrones

Last book you read?
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Favorite podcast or blog?
Emergency Intercom

Favorite movie or genre?
Anything Sci-Fi/Fantasy – The Substance

Last movie you watched?
Sinners (10/10)

Favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Interlaken, Switzerland! Lake Thun & Lake Brienz are absolutely gorgeous and the mountains are breathtaking. The natural beauty of this region is unmatched and there are so many outdoor activities to choose from.

Favorite style of architecture?
Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau, Contemporary - hard to pinpoint!!

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you?
National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to and why?
Amsterdam. I have an intrinsic connection to city parks. They arguably have the best in the world. A perfect blend of people, nature, and urbanity.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Hopefully, Timothee Chalamet

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
Kiwi Bird. First off, I can fly. Secondly, I’d be native to New Zealand which is pretty cool. 

Are you messy or organized?
Organized

What’s your pet peeve?
Slow drivers

Guilty pleasure?
Dunkin’ Donuts

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Barack Obama

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
RuPaul’s Drag Race Finale, Season 9, Alex Theater Glendale, CA

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
My Xbox 360. Although it has sat in my closet for years, it has over a dozen of my Minecraft cities that I need to preserve.

What three traits characterize you?
Empathetic, driven, playful

What’s your astrological sign?
Capricorn

What is your personal philosophy?
Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
My mom

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Both accepting and embracing my identity.

What is your greatest fear?
Tsunamis

What is your superpower?
My humor. I’d say I can turn difficult situations into something lighthearted or comforting.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Receiving the Harlan McClure Award from Clemson University for my final graduate project!

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The people! I feel embraced and am constantly learning.

What does true leadership mean to you?
True leadership is the ability to accept feedback and listen with an open mind to empower others.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
Music Producer

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
To get off Minecraft and go outside.

How do you define success?
Constantly growing and evolving

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I am the middle child of 5.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
”If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell can you love anybody else?”

Celebrating National Preservation Month 2025

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As our team celebrates National Preservation Month, we reflect on the significance of our nation’s historic places. Liollio has been honored with the preservation of many structures and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our clients have entrusted us with buildings both grand and modest, both museum-quality restorations and adaptive reuses, all in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

Whether hiding fire protection systems or preserving a doorknob touched by five generations, we understand both the technical and the artistic. We embrace a collaborative, thoughtful, and sensitive approach to assessing and restoring historic structures. Historically and culturally sensitive projects, done well, are a balanced combination of head and heart. We look forward to the opportunity to continue preserving these historic places for the next generation.

Rural Witnesses Exhibition: Retracing & Reimagining Rural Architecture

Liollio is honored to have been selected as a contributor to the inspiring and powerful exhibition: Rural Witnesses: Retracing and Reimagining Rural Architecture presented by Clemson School of Architecture, Partners of Place, and 701 CCA (Center for Contemporary Art). Liollio team members had the pleasure of visiting the opening reception and a tour as part of the AIA South Carolina State Conference.

This exhibition celebrates rural spaces while exploring how past policies and power dynamics can inform more community-driven futures. Kudos to the curators for celebrating untold stories of our communities, and promoting innovative regionalism.

Don’t miss it - on view at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC through June 15! For more information visit here.

National Park Service & College of Charleston Recognized with 2025 AIA South Carolina Design Awards

Cheers to our colleagues and clients who were recognized in the 2025 AIA South Carolina Design Awards, recognizing those throughout the state who exemplify vision, creativity, and design innovation. We are honored to have collaborated on the following two American Institute of Architects South Carolina award-winning projects.

The National Park Service was honored with an AIA South Carolina Merit Award and Framework for Design Excellence Award for VIIS Resource Management and Science Facility and Housing. Designed for extreme resilience, this facility provides staff residences, areas to encourage community engagement and outreach, and space for research and storage, allowing the protection and study of the islands’ heritage for future generations. The F4DE award is intended to inspire progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. 

College of Charleston was recognized with an AIA South Carolina Honor Award for the Simons Center for the Arts. The Simons Center for the Arts renovation aims to create a resilient urban response to showcasing the arts, signaling to the community the creativity within, moderating between history and progress, and enhancing connections to the historic campus. The interior approach transforms dim, uninviting spaces to foster collaboration across curricula, breathing new life into an integral community resource.

Exceptional projects are the result of collaboration with visionary clients. Liollio congratulates award recipients on this outstanding recognition!

Liollio Announces New Elevations

Liollio celebrates the accomplishments of our team. We are pleased to announce Elissa Morrison’s elevation to Associate Principal & Erin Estep’s elevation to Associate. Congratulations Elissa & Erin!

Happy Earth Day 2025!

Liollio celebrates Earth Day 2025! As our recognition of Earth Day comes to a close, we turn the spotlight on the National Park Service U.S. Virgin Island’s Resource Management and Science Facility and Park Staff Housing in Lind Point. Designed for extreme resilience, this facility provides staff residences, areas to encourage community engagement and outreach, and space for research and storage, allowing the protection and study of the islands’ heritage for future generations. Parks are essential in caring for our country’s cultural treasures and recreational sites – and we encourage you to go and open the door - get outside and explore them!

Earth Day 2025: Visit Your State Parks!

Earth Day is just one week away! As we continue to highlight projects that celebrate the great outdoors, we turn to South Carolina’s Parks, Recreation & Tourism’s Charles Towne Landing. This 664-acre historic site features six miles of trails for walking, biking, and exploring, along with the Animal Forest natural habitat zoo, 80 acres of gardens, and versatile event spaces. Designed to be transparent, the surrounding landscape remains the visual focus. South Carolina’s State Parks offer spaces for the community to gather, learn, and explore – together!

Learn more about CharlesTowne Landing State Historic Site here.

Earth Day 2025: Visit Your Local Parks!

As Earth Day approaches, Liollio encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy their local parks! Check out Carr-Richardson Park - a hidden gem nestled in the historic Ashleyville/Maryville neighborhood of West Ashley in Charleston, S.C. Alongside the City of Charleston, Liollio prioritized sustainable and resilient design to allow this beautiful space to be enjoyed for generations to come. Local parks bring communities together, provide space for events, and offer opportunities to connect with the natural environment. The countdown to Earth Day is on!