Firehouse Magazine Announces National Station Design Award Winners

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Firehouse Magazine announced the winners of its ninth annual Station Design Awards program, which recognizes outstanding architecture and design from fire departments and emergency facilities nationwide. Peter Matthews, Firehouse Editor-in-Chief said, “This is the ninth year of the awards, and we are excited to see the advances in fire station designs. It’s wonderful to see the coordination between fire departments and architectural firms to design stations with a focus on keeping firefighters trained and healthy to better serve their communities. As fire departments become true all-hazard response agencies, their training and equipment needs grow, and the new facilities offer improved opportunities for firefighters to hone their skills.”

Winners were selected by a panel of seven judges, including fire chiefs and architects experienced in recent design and construction. Liollio is honored to announce that The City of Charleston Fire Station #11 received the Firehouse Station Special Design Award and James Island Public Service District Fire Station #1 HQ received a Notable Award.

Fire stations are essential public buildings that serve as critical infrastructure for emergency response services, and designing them requires careful consideration of operational needs, efficiency, and aesthetics. Receiving this award highlights Liollio’s commitment to creating spaces that not only meet the functional requirements of a fire station but also contribute to the community's architectural landscape. It recognizes Liollio’s dedication to designing buildings that enhance the well-being of the firefighters and the surrounding community while promoting safety and efficiency.

Showcasing and recognizing both projects is a tremendous honor and the Liollio team would like to thank Firehouse, the jurors, and our clients and project team. Congratulations to our clients at the City of Charleston, Charleston Fire Department and James Island Public Service District!

About Firehouse
Firehouse is the leading fire and emergency services brand, reaching more than 1.5 million visitors and subscribers monthly and thousands of attendees annually via its live events and media portfolio. The Firehouse brand encompasses Firehouse Magazine, Firehouse.com, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse Station Design Conference, Station Design Awards, and many print and digital products targeting fire and emergency services personnel. Utilizing its multiple platforms and unparalleled reach, Firehouse sets itself apart from the competition by fostering a culture that encourages innovation and the use of the latest digital and database technologies to best serve its audience and companies serving the marketplace.

Liollio Team Members Attend AIA Conference on Architecture 2023 in San Francisco

Liollio’s Michelle Lanker and Mason Malsegna attended the 2023 National AIA Conference in San Francisco recently. The conference gathered industry leaders and professionals to discuss equity, resiliency, workflow efficiency, and knowledge sharing. Michelle and Mason attended various sessions regarding community-based design initiatives, mitigation of climate effects through design, fundamental shifts within the AEC industry, and better design through symbiotic teaming. The experience enabled Michelle and Mason to pursue specific interests; Michelle focusing on firm-wide quality assurance processes and Mason focusing on shaping the future of sustainable design within the AIA SC Cote Chapter. They also had a chance to explore the city, have fun, and take in San Francisco’s distinct architectural language and urban fabric. Liollio is thrilled to have these two to attend the 2023 National AIA Conference and represent our team!

For info on next year’s AIA Conference on Architecture, visit A’24 Washington DC

City of Charleston Fire Station #11 & James Island PSD Fire Station #1 Honored with F.I.E.R.O. Design Awards

View fullsize

Click here to review the Program Award Winners.

For the 2022 FIERO Fire Station Design Awards Program, FIERO received entries from architectural firms across North America. The Jury awarded two Honor Awards, two Merit Awards, and four Recognition Awards. We are honored to announce that two Liollio projects were awarded! The City of Charleston Fire Station #11 received one of the two FIERO Honor Awards and James Island Public Service District Fire Station #1 HQ received one of the two Merit Awards. Our entire team would like to thank FIERO and the jurors for recognizing and honoring our station designs! We would also like to say thank you and congratulations to our clients at the City of Charleston, Charleston Fire Department and James Island Public Service District!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

About F.I.E.R.O.
F.I.E.R.O. (Fire Industry Education and Resource Organization) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, organization which operates under the guidance of an all-volunteer Board of Directors comprised of members with a rich history in the fire service. F.I.E.R.O. exists to improve firefighter health and safety and accomplishes this through educational conferences and workshops and participation on research projects. In the past five years, we have partnered with the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation to study contamination control and with N.C. State University to study heat strain caused by personal protective equipment (PPE).

F.I.E.R.O. was formed in September 1990 and was modeled after three west coast organizations: SAFER (Southern Area Fire Equipment Research), NAFER (Northern Area Fire Equipment Research) and CAFER (Central Area Fire Equipment Research). Though based in California, these organizations reached into Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. Of those three original organizations, SAFER is the only one still in operation. The general concept was to create a network for fire service professionals to connect with each other and with equipment manufacturers to improve the products used in the fire service--amazingly, the fire service discovered that their problems were not unique. Through these organizations, products such as disintegrating PPV fan blades are no longer in the market and locking Storz couplings are now the standard. The fire service and related manufacturers all benefited from improved products and better service because of these organizations.

The first F.I.E.R.O. meeting was held at the Cobb County Fire Department in Georgia with close to 100 people in attendance and Captain Doug Miller of the Atlanta Fire Department (who later became Chief of the Atlanta Fire Department) spoke about PPE selection. F.I.E.R.O. continued to meet throughout the Southeast with Captain Dart Kendall (Cobb County Fire Department) serving as the first President and Battalion Chief Brenda Nishiyama Willis ("Nish") of the Atlanta Fire Department serving as the first treasurer.

With the emergence of the Internet and email, communications about product problems spread through the industry very quickly and F.I.E.R.O. re-invented itself. The board realized there were other areas where the fire service needed to learn more about and create stronger connections in. In 2000, F.I.E.R.O. hosted the first-of-its-kind, and F.I.E.R.O.'s first (what would become annual) Fire Station Design Symposium in Charlotte. Through the symposium, F.I.E.R.O. provided fire station design education and exposure to experts in fire station design to the fire service. Through 2018, F.I.E.R.O. has hosted 17 Fire Station Design Symposiums in both Charlotte and Raleigh. In 2009, again recognizing an unmet need, F.I.E.R.O. hosted the first-ever Fire PPE Symposium, also in Charlotte. This symposium focuses on disseminating the results of research and scientific studies, creating a better understanding of the performance requirements set for firefighting PPE, and the limitations of firefighting PPE. In March 2019, the seventh biennial PPE Symposium will be held in Raleigh. Attendance at these symposiums increases for every event, illustrating the broad reach F.I.E.R.O. has in the fire service. In 2014, to broaden that educational reach, F.I.E.R.O. conducted its first Regional Fire PPE Workshop at the DFW Fire Research & Training Facility in Texas. The focus of these smaller workshops is the selection, care and maintenance of PPE.

Fore more information, please visit fieroonline.org

SPOTLIGHT ON: MASON MALSEGNA

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate them and get to know them better. Our June Spotlight On feature is Mason Malsegna. Mason joined the Liollio team in 2021 as a Project Designer. He is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture. Mason is a valuable addition to the studio, and his involvement on many project types and sizes helps distill creativity and confidence. Mason’s previous research in sustainable and resilient design methodologies helps us produce equitable and thoughtful work. We sat down for a Q+A session with our June Spotlight On feature:

Where did you grow up? I grew up in a town outside of Rochester, NY on the Erie Canal called Fairport.

Are you married? Do you have children? No

What do you like to do for fun? I love working out, mountain biking, exploring outside, and hiking. I’m also a big foodie and love cooking and trying wines.

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them. I have a cat that I adopted when I moved to Charleston from Pounce Cat Café. She’s a street cat with an edge (not really, but that’s the life I pretend she lived when she was picked up by the Target on Rivers Avenue). She keeps me up, knocks things over, and is a pain in my rear, but I’m happy to have her.

Favorite place(s) to go locally? Sullivan’s Island is my favorite spot in Charleston. Often I’ll go there to watch the sunrise, or sunset as well as to enjoy the nice warm weather this city has to offer.

Favorite restaurant? My favorite spot, thus far, is Great Wall Express (a Chinese place close to my house in Park Circle). They have cheap and delicious food that reminds me of a spot I used to go to when I was younger.

Favorite food? My favorite meal is a garbage plate, and it’s the most disgustingly unhealthy thing, but it’s delicious and local to Rochester, NY. It consists of mac salad and homefries as the base, topped with 1 to 4 cheeseburger patties, and smothered in a meat hot sauce, fresh onion, and mustard.

Least favorite food? Doesn’t exist.

Do you play any instruments? No

What song is at the top of your most played list? It’s always changing as I’m trying to find new music, but right now it’s Mount Everest by Labrinth.

Favorite musical artist or genre? I love a mix of pop, indie, funk, and rap. My taste is a bit eclectic. My favorite artist at the moment is Dominic Fike.

Favorite visual artist? Donald Judd is my favorite. I love his sculptural work as his attention to fabrication detail is immense.

Favorite television show? My favorite show is Euphoria, but a close second with White Lotus.

Favorite book or author? The Great Gatsby

Last book you read? War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Favorite podcast or blog? The Leftovers Podcast

Favorite movie or genre? I’m a sucker for a good thriller movie. My favorite is Kill Bill Vol. I

Last movie you watched? Knives Out: Glass Onion – it was ok.

Favorite place you have traveled to and why? Thailand – every corner you turned there was something new to see, new food to try, and things to do.

Favorite style of architecture? I like a good mid-century modern home being from the North.

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you? Louis Kahn’s Baptist Church in Rochester.

What would the book or movie about your life be called? A Haphazard Odyssey

Who would play you in a movie about your life? It would definitely be me.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? I would be a human, cause you know, top of the food chain and all.

Are you messy or organized? An organized mess. But I’m neat.

What’s your pet peeve? When my schedule or plans change suddenly.

Guilty pleasure? Sipping on wine in the bath listening to music or with a good book.

Tell us a random fact. In German, it’s called “meerrettich” (sea radish) because it grows by the sea. Many believe the English mispronounced the German word “meer” and began calling it “mareradish.” Eventually it became known as horseradish. The word “horse” is believed to denote large size and coarseness. – Straight from Google.

Favorite quote? I don’t have one.

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be? Robin Williams – seemed like an interesting figure.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? Berlin Wall coming down – sounds like it was a good time.

If your house was burning down, what is the one nonliving thing you would save? My mountain bike.

What three traits characterize you? Determined – Friendly - Considerate

What’s your astrological sign? Libra – whatever you take that as.

What is your personal philosophy? Live and let live.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without? Good wine

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far? Moving to a new state (South Carolina) on my own.

What is your greatest fear? As time goes on, my fear of small spaces grows larger. (See what I did there?)

What inspires you most? Random acts of kindness people do.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? Graduating near-top of my class from Syracuse University.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio? The firm culture - everyone is family.

What does true leadership mean to you? Someone who knows how to orchestrate, but also let people figure things out on their own.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? National Park Ranger

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? Do as much as you can with your youth.

How do you define success? By my own personal satisfaction of what I do.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I was training to become an Olympic Lifter while in high school, and I still train now, just not professionally.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Let things happen, you can’t control every outcome.

Liollio Field Day 2023

The Liollio team celebrated the beginning of summer by holding our first Liollio Field Day at Carr-Richardson Park in West Ashley. With fond memories of elementary school field days, usually held in May before summer break, we thought this would be a fun way to introduce play into a Friday workday. Field Day games were designed to improve overall health, strengthen team building, and show our folks how much they’re appreciated. Games included a Macaroni & Marshmallow Building Challenge, Beach Ball Relay, Jumbo Jenga, Hula Hoop Relay, Water Balloon Toss, Hard Hat Cup Relay, and more. Everyone had a great time, and we look forward to doing it again next year!

USCB Hilton Head Campus Awarded AIA Charleston Design Award

Liollio is excited to announce that the University of South Carolina-Beaufort’s Hilton Head Hospitality Management Campus received an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Charleston Merit Award for New Construction at the 2023 AIA Charleston Design Awards. Congratulations to our clients and friends at USCB Hilton Head!

This 40,000 SF facility is a new resource for USCB’s Hospitality Department in Beaufort and for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County and Jasper County's thriving hospitality industry. The design is harmonious with natural surroundings, incorporates campus culture and island character, and reflects the island’s ecological design principles and sustainable practices by achieving Two Green Globes sustainability certification. The entry portico mimics the architectural style of the Old Beaufort College Building, referencing the history of the University while also reflecting its evolution. In addition to State and USCB program requirements, municipal aesthetic requirements are unique to the Island. The team led a successful collaborative effort to develop the design of this much needed school and event space for the Region. Liollio, in association with Bialosky, carefully developed the iconic design for this two-story facility. The site design focuses on preserving the island’s natural aesthetic through sensitive redevelopment. The design limits disruption to the environment, enhances the existing natural elements, and incorporates natural materials and finishes.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Liollio Architecture Elevates Team Members to Associate

View fullsize

Liollio Architecture is pleased to announce the elevation of Lance Eubanks, Liz Corr, and Sarah Glass to Associate. The Liollio team celebrates their accomplishments and looks forward to their continued leadership. Congratulations to our new Associates!

Lance Eubanks, AIA, LEED AP, a Mississippi native, earned a Bachelor of Architecture at Mississippi State University. Lance has worked on multiple project types, including Biomedical Research Centers, Federal and Municipal projects, Higher Education Learning Environments, and Healthcare Facilities – always drawing his inspiration from the people who occupy these buildings. He fosters an encouraging and collaborative environment on each of his project teams. Lance is a member of AIA South Carolina and an alumnus of the AIA Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program. Prior to joining Liollio, Lance worked as a Project Manager and Project Designer in Washington DC. 

Liz Corr, AIA, GGP, is a native of Philadelphia, PA. She completed her undergraduate education at Shippensburg University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics before completing her Master of Architecture at Clemson University. Liz’s professional experience includes projects in the Community, K12, Higher Education, and Federal markets. Her passion lies in education, library, and other community-centered design, where she believes architecture can have the most influential and positive impact. Liz is a member of AIA South Carolina, a board member with the Charleston Chapter of the ACE Mentor Program of America, and an Aqua Angel and regular volunteer with the Charleston Parks Conservancy.

Sarah Glass, AIA, a native of Charleston, received her Bachelor of Design in Architecture at the University of Florida and her Master of Architecture at Clemson University. She believes that the built environment has an incredible amount of influence on people’s lives. Sarah’s professional experience includes K12, Higher Education, Community, and Federal projects. She is the current AIA Charleston President, a past-chair of AIA SC’s Equity in Architecture Committee, and is involved with the Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston. Sarah is a studio leader, consistently bringing passion, confident direction, and expertise to the studio and on every phase of a project that she’s involved in.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM LIOLLIO!

Celebrating the Careers, Achievements, & Contributions of Principals Cherie Liollio, AIA & Tommy Schimpf Upon Retirement

View fullsize

View fullsize

“Cherie & Tommy’s combined experience spans a total of 80 years. Though we celebrate their careers, contributions, achievements, & retirement, they will remain part of the core foundation upon which Liollio Architecture was built and part of our professional family forever.”

— The Liollio Team

Richland Library Ballentine Awarded AIA Charleston Merit Award

View fullsize

Liollio is excited to announce that Richland Library Ballentine received an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Charleston Merit Award for New Construction at the 2022 AIA Charleston Design + Service Awards last month. Congratulations to our clients and friends at Richland Library!

Richland Library Ballentine is a suburban public library that creates a wooded escape to support an active local community of artists and craftspeople. The library provides a connection to the outdoors that includes an artist’s corner for quiet, meditative work surrounded by nature. The central public space is seen as a living room, a linear space which is oriented away from civilization and culminates in a framed view of an undeveloped woodscape. The living room is punctuated by three public art works, including a wisteria tree which drapes playfully over a children’s reading area, crocheted by library patrons.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Ashley River Park Event Pavilion Honored With AIA South Atlantic Region & AIA Charleston Awards

View fullsize

Liollio is excited to announce that the Dorchester County Ashley River Park Event Pavilion received an American Institute of Architects (AIA) South Atlantic Region Merit Award for New Construction at the 2022 ASPIRE Conference in Asheville NC. The award-winning project also received an Honor Award for New Construction at the 2022 AIA Charleston Design + Service Awards last month. Congratulations to our clients and friends at Dorchester County Parks and Recreation, as well as, our Ashley River Park partners, SeamonWhiteside!

Liollio, in association with SeamonWhiteside, developed the new Ashley River Park for Dorchester County SC. The new 85-acre park features many amenities, including walking trails, fishing pier, dog park, interactive play foundation, playgrounds, open lawn, gatehouse, picnic shelters, event pavilion, restroom building and outfitters center. The event pavilion was designed for a wide variety of events, including family reunions, corporate events, weddings, music venue, etc. The outfitters building includes the park offices, tenant space for the future ropes course company, large conference room, a screen porch for school group programming and public restrooms. The team worked together to integrate the buildings and landscape. The Park has been warmly embraced by the community since its grand opening in March 2022.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

2022 Aspire Design Awards Winners Winners were revealed at ASPIRE in Asheville NC in September. To view the awards gallery, click on the award image above.

View fullsize

Charleston County Public Library Support Center Receives 2022 AIA South Atlantic Region Merit Award

View fullsize

Liollio is excited to share that the Charleston County Public Library Support Center received an American Institute of Architects (AIA) South Atlantic Region Merit Award for Adaptive Reuse at the 2022 ASPIRE Conference in Asheville NC. Congratulations to our clients and friends at Charleston County Public Library!

As part of the Charleston County Public Library’s referendum for 21st-century libraries, the Support Center relocated the CCPL Administration, training and conference facilities, and central Automated Materials Handling to a consolidated facility. A renovation and interior upfit to an existing industrial commerce facility, this project included administrative offices, training classrooms, conference rooms, employee support areas, central IT, library cataloging and acquisitions, central supply storage, Automated Materials Handling, and distribution to all branches. The renovation also provided innovative solutions to dry floodproofing, daylighting, and upgrades to the existing building.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

2022 Aspire Design Awards Winners Winners were revealed at ASPIRE in Asheville NC in September. To view the awards gallery, click on the award image above.

Library Journal Features Award-Winning Charlotte Mecklenburg South County Regional Library

Liollio Architecture’s partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Mecklenburg County NC is featured in the latest Library Journal article “Future-Proofing Libraries Through Flexible Design” by Jessica Levine. Be sure to check out the coverage of South County Regional Library!

We are also excited to share that South County Library received an American Institute of Architects (AIA) South Atlantic Region Merit Award for Interior Architecture at the 2022 ASPIRE Conference in Asheville NC. Congratulations to our visionary clients!

“As a civic building, a library should support a community’s needs and also represent that community’s identity, aspirations, or unique sense of place.”

— Jennifer Charzewski, Liollio Principal & Community Market Leader

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

2022 Aspire Design Awards Winners Winners were revealed at ASPIRE in Asheville NC in September. To view the awards gallery, click on the award image above.

Happy Thanksgiving from your Friends at Liollio!

The Liollio team wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for - the ability to pursue our passions and doing what we love, our clients, professional partners, consultants, community, each other…the list is long! We would not be who we are without you. We are grateful for the connections, opportunities, partnerships and support we’ve been blessed with this year. We wish you all the best as we enter into the holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!

SPOTLIGHT ON: CATHERINE MANNS

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate them and get to know them better. Our November Spotlight On feature is Catherine Manns. Catherine joined the Liollio team this year as an Interior Designer. She is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BFA in Interior Design. Catherine is a valuable addition to the studio, contributing in pinups, jumping into production, and adding to our firm culture. We sat down for a Q+A session with our October Spotlight On feature:

Where did you grow up?
Whitehall, Michigan. It is a small town on the coast of Lake Michigan that gets full of tourists in the Summer.

What do you like to do for fun?
Play Mario Kart with my boyfriend and go for drives by the water.

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
I just adopted a rescue dog of my own here in Charleston! Her name is Pokey because she is a slow poke. She is a black Labrador mix and is only 30 pounds. Pokey is a quirky dog who is already very comfortable sleeping in our bed and stealing our spot on the couch. My family in Michigan has 3 dogs that I grew up with. Koa is a beagle mix who is 13 years old and the epitome of a grumpy old man. He stays young with the other two dogs named Akela, a pitbull mix, and Hanai, a great dane puppy(ish). Akela will follow you everywhere and will peer pressure you into a car ride. Hanai is 90 pounds, but she still has a favorite stuffed animal that she carries around and is afraid of small children. All 3 dogs have Hawaiian names with their own meaning because my mom was born in Hawaii. It has been a tradition since her and my dad named their first dog together.

Favorite food?
A good burger with lots of mayo.

Favorite television show?
Deep down I am a 90 year-old woman and I love all game shows, but my favorite is Wheel of Fortune. My family has watched it every weeknight at 7pm for as long as I can remember. I now make my boyfriend participate.

Favorite movie or genre?
Monsters Inc. is one of my childhood favorites, and The Lovely Bones is one of my favorite darker movies. I love watching things about murder and kidnapping.

Favorite style of architecture?
I have always loved Victorian style architecture for homes.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
Dog - because they have no responsibilities.

Are you messy or organized?
Organized for the most part.

What’s your pet peeve?
I hate the sound of hands rubbing together, and not really a pet peeve, but I hate that pedestrians have the right of way.

Guilty pleasure?
Coca-Cola

Favorite quote?
”Live your life in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you, no one would believe it.”

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

Tell us a random fact.
Subway bread is classified as cake due to its high sugar content.

If your house was burning down, what is the one nonliving thing you would save?
Family photos

What’s your astrological sign?
Cancer

What is your personal philosophy?
Everything will work out in the end.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Google Maps

What is your greatest fear?
Being stuck/locked in a small space.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Receiving a full ride to Iowa State.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
That I can contribute my interior design skills and also learn more about architecture and how it all intertwines.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
I used to want to be a vet when I was a kid, before I found out they work on many animals not just puppies.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Stop trying to grow up so fast - enjoy being a kid at home while you can.

How do you define success?
Loving what you do every day, surrounded by people you love.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I love listening to screamo and punk-rock music whenever I do design work. It puts me in the zone.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
My mom told me that the juiciest watermelons are the ones that are all beat up on the outside. That is not a metaphor, it is actually a watermelon tip.

Happy National Boss's Day!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Boss's Day (also written as Bosses Day or Boss' Day) is generally observed on or around October 16th in the United States. It is a day for employees to do something kind and heartfelt for supervisors as a way of saying thank you. We celebrated National Boss’s Day at Liollio this morning with a breakfast provided by the studio. Each team member brought in homemade breakfast dishes, pastries and more. Cheers to all the great bosses out there!

Liollio Principal, Jennifer Charzewski & Others Present at Pecha Kucha 40

Liollio Principal Jennifer Charzewski Presents at Pecha Kucha Charleston

PechaKucha, which means the sound of conversation in Japanese, was first conceived by Tokyo architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, who were seeking a way to encourage student presenters to use PowerPoint in a more organized and succinct manner. PechaKucha has spread to over 135 cities around the world as an informal forum for creative people to meet, network and show their work in public. Each presenter is allowed 20 images, each shown for just 20 seconds, giving 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up. This keeps presentations concise, the interest level up, and gives more people the chance to show.

PechaKucha 40 took place at Charleston Music Hall on Thursday, September 15, 2022 and featured presenters Candace Patterson, Will Kiser, Bintou N’Daw, Kalyn Oyer, Chase Quinn, and many others, including Liollio Principal Jennifer Charzewski. Check out all the presentations on Charleston Music Hall’s Youtube page.

Liollio's Elissa Morrison & Other Honorees Celebrated as CRBJ's 2022 Forty Under 40 Recipients

Last week the Charleston Regional Business Journal's 2022 Forty Under 40 Awards Ceremony was held at Charleston Gaillard Center. Liollio Associate and Architect, Elissa Morrison, AIA, was honored as one of the 40 recipients. The Liollio team would like to congratulate Elissa and all of this year’s honorees!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Charleston Regional Business Journal
Written by Jenny Peterson
Photography by Ariel Perez
SEP 16, 2022

They’re volunteers, non-profit board members, foster parents, founders of nonprofits that help children and the community and pioneers in their fields.

Even more outstanding? They’re all under 40 years old.

More than 250 people attended the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 event, celebrating those young people’s accomplishments while feasting on prime rib and a mashed potatoes bar. The event was sponsored by Charleston Southern University and the Charleston Gaillard Center.

Each nominee was called to the stage and their resumes and community service highlighted by emcees Quinn Gaines — a past Forty Under 40 winner and director of business development for Choate Construction’s South Carolina Division — and Jason Thomas, executive editor of SC Biz News.

While the nominees work in a wide variety of industries — real estate, architecture, transportation, legal and health services, property management, hospitality — all of them have a deep passion for giving back to their community.

Collectively, the nominees dedicate their time and support the following organizations: The Susan G. Komen dragon boat race, Teacher’s Supply Closet, Green Heart Project, American Red Cross, Chase After the Cure, Girls on the Run, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, Next Child Fund, One80Place, Goose Creek Planning Commission, financial literacy organization Increasing HOPE and the Junior League of Summerville.

Many nominees use their business skills to help the community, like Max N. Gruetzmacher, member attorney at Motley Rice, who has offered legal services for Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, Charleston HALOS, Lowcountry Food Bank, Charleston WaterKeeper, Charleston Animal Society, Palmetto Paws and Charleston Legal Access.

Doing good through their work, Nichole Johnson, a local missions ministry leader at Seacoast Church, runs a warming shelter for homeless people in West Ashley. Devon Andrews, director of policy and partnerships at the Charleston Parks Conservancy, created community initiatives like Books on Buses, Books for Babies programs, Free and Fresh Fridge initiative.

Personal missions include the creation of new important nonprofits. Zach Volousky, vice president and financial consultant at South State Investment Services, co-founded Pickle’s People, which supports children and families that are undergoing a recent childhood cancer diagnosis, following his young daughter’s Leukemia diagnosis.

Marcus Bryant, a formerly homeless youth, founded Compass Collegiate Academy, a free charter school in North Charleston, and has dedicated his service to empowering marginalized communities.

Breaking down barriers in health care, Jill Dunnigan, manager of Provider Network Management for Select Health of South Carolina, served as the company’s first culturally and linguistically appropriate services coordinator. She learned about the problem of cultural and linguistic barriers while studying in Spain during college, where she experienced the struggles one encounters when using a health care system in a non-native language and culture. Dr. Cerrissa Hugie was recognized as the first female Black psychiatric nurse practitioner to open her own practice in Charleston.

Celebrating the local community, Dawn Boren, senior management specialist at Boeing, writes a children’s book series called Stories of the Gullah Geechee Children in her free time.

“Beautiful beaches, an historic downtown and great weather do not make a community — people like these 40 young people do,” said Thomas. “It takes many people volunteering their time and talent to build a strong, rich, vibrant, caring community. The selfless examples, the breadth and depth of community service and volunteer work represented tonight, is truly inspiring.”

SPOTLIGHT ON: HUNTER THURLO

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Spotlight On is a Liollio tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate them and to get to know them better as individuals. Our August Spotlight On feature is Hunter Thurlo. Hunter became a welcome addition to our team his year, joining the Liollio studio as a Project Designer. He is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (2021) and a Masters of Architecture (2022). Hunter has become a valuable contributor, jumping right into studio pinups, production and the culture of the firm. We sat down for a little Q+A with one of our newest team members.

Where did you grow up? Mocksville NC

Are you married? No

Do you have children? No

What do you like to do for fun? Be outside, and explore new things.

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them. Growing up we had a recreational farm, and a slew of dogs and cats.

Favorite place(s) to go locally? Sullivan’s Island

Favorite food? Mexican

Least favorite food? Indian

Favorite book? Any well-articulated (with pictures) monograph on architecture.

Do you play any instruments? No

Favorite musical artist or genre? My Spotify favorites resemble a pinball …always changing directions

Favorite visual artist? Ralph Grady James

Favorite television show? The Big Bang Theory

Favorite podcast or blog? Oh yeah, I cannot pay attention to podcasts.

Favorite movie or genre? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Favorite style of architecture? All styles resemble a time/place that represents the culture and technology of the time; therefore favoritism towards one is not allowing the understanding of what the style did for humanity.

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to and why? St. Kitts. However, Rome would have probably topped it if my Study Abroad wasn’t cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What would the book or movie about your life be called? Dumpster Fire

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? Whale - the strong family aspect.

Are you messy or organized? An organized mess.

What’s your pet peeve? The lack of work ethic.

Tell us a random fact. I spent Thanksgiving in jail one time…it’s not what you think.

Favorite quote? “Humor is the absence of terror, and terror is the absence of humor.” – Jimmy Buffett

What three traits characterize you? Humorous, extroverted, selfless

What’s your astrological sign? Aries

What is your personal philosophy? Don’t Give Up the Ship

What is your greatest fear? Birds, snakes, ghosts

What inspires you most? Working hard and dedication.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? Making the rival high school swim coach break a clipboard because I beat his swimmer.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio? The culture and dedication to design.

What does true leadership mean to you? Selflessness and respect.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? Large machine operator at a landfill…I would crush it.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? Go have fun and take a break.

How do you define success? Starts with waking up in the morning.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Confident, not cocky.”

Historic Brattonsville Brick House Honored with 2022 SC Historic Preservation Award

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards were presented at the State House on July 13, 2022 by SC Governor Henry McMaster and First Lady Peggy McMaster. The awards were sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, and Preservation South Carolina. Liollio Architecture’s project, The Brick House, McConnells: Historic Brattonsville, was honored with a 2022 South Carolina Historic Preservation Stewardship Award. The Liollio team has great respect and appreciation for our State’s history and the preservation of it’s historic landmarks. Liollio is honored to be part of the talented team of individuals who have united to revitalize and preserve this historic building. Congratulations to our team and to all of this year’s award recipients for their amazing work!

For more information about the projects/recipients and images from the awards presentation visit Preservation South Carolina’s 2022 awards page. And click here for a local ABC News story on the awards.

Governor’s Award:  Dr. Wenonah Haire, Rock Hill: Catawba Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director of the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project

Preservation Service Award (project/recipient):  Grace Chapel Baptist Cemetery Project, Charleston : The South Carolina History Room, Charleston County Public Library

Stewardship Awards (property/recipient):

• Strawberry Chapel, Moncks Corner: Strawberry Chapel Vestry, St. John’s Berkeley Parish

• South Carolina Governor’s Mansion, Columbia: The South Carolina Department of Administration

• The Brick House, McConnells: Historic Brattonsville – York Culture & Heritage Museums

• John Mark Verdier House, Beaufort: Historic Beaufort Foundation

• 164 King Street, Charleston: Charleston Library Society

Preservation Honor Awards (project/recipients):

• 106 E. Benson Street, Anderson: Danny Walker; Daniel Builders; and Kyle Campbell, Preservation South, LLC

• 1639-1645 Main Street, Columbia: Sara Middleton Styles & Greg Middleton, Smoked; Rogers Lewis Jackson Mann & Quinn, LLC; Scott Garvin, Garvin Design Group; and Lee Mashburn, Mashburn Construction Company

• Savage Craft Ale Works, West Columbia: Andrew Baumgartner, Baumer Holdings, LLC; Mark Hood, Amanda Harter, Dean Wilson, Hood Construction; and Wes Lyles, Studio2LR

• Monarch Building/ Bank of Camden: Laurel & Westley Parks, P&P Investment Partners; Scott Lambert, Lambert Architecture & Construction Services; Rich Spencer, Lambert Architecture & Construction Services

• Woodside Cotton Mill, Greenville: Randy Moore, CG Woodside Partners, LLC; Ken Betsch, Betsch Associates; and Chris Norris, Caldwell Constructors