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Design Plans Unveiled for New Discovery Place Nature
Mez Joseph
April 22, 2022 DISCOVERY PLACE NATURE
Discovery Place celebrated Earth Day by unveiling design plans for the reimagining of Discovery Place Nature situated in Charlotte’s Freedom Park. The new nature haven will be a world-class environmental education center serving the Carolinas and will feature a free public garden filled with wildlife and native plants, inviting the community to connect with and explore the wonders of our natural world.
The project is a public-private partnership between Mecklenburg County, who owns the property and facility, and Discovery Place, a nonprofit leader for science education in the U.S., which has operated the Museum since its doors opened to the Charlotte community in 1947.
“Discovery Place Nature has been an incredible community resource for decades,” said Mecklenburg County Manager Dena R. Diorio. “This is a huge step toward ensuring it remains a valuable learning resource for decades to come.”
A public-private partnership, the new Museum will be developed at the 71-year-old facility’s current location on Sterling Road adjacent to Freedom Park, providing a complete reinvention of the current Discovery Place Nature—the first nature museum in the Southeast. The Board of County Commissioners of Mecklenburg County previously approved the recommendation of County staff and Discovery Place to select the award-winning team of Liollio Architecture and Hood Design Studio to lead the planning and design of the new Discovery Place Nature.
“Mecklenburg County and Discovery Place are thrilled to have such a talented and environmentally-focused team on board to bring a new future for Discovery Place Nature to life,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, president & CEO of Discovery Place Inc. “We can’t wait to see the vision formed by Liollio and Hood, two organizations with deep Carolina roots, come to life for one of Charlotte’s most beloved and important institutions. The new design will allow us to connect with the community in an elevated way, including signature environment educational experiences and programming for all ages.”
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Liollio Architecture has been providing thoughtful, respectful, creative design since 1956. Their work spans both the private and public sectors, providing sustainable architecture, interior design and historic preservation. Liollio has built a reputation on design through community engagement and collaboration, and their work is rooted in the particulars of place, people and landscape.
Liollio has won more than 100 design awards over the years for its work, including the 2016 American Institute of Architects South Carolina Firm Award; the Library Journal Landmark Library National Award for St. Helena Library at Penn Center; and the AIA South Atlantic Region Honor Award for Hampton Health Clinic.
“We are honored to be collaborating with Discovery Place and Mecklenburg County on the new Discovery Place Nature, which will combine Discovery Place’s capacity for innovation and education in science, nature and design with the incredible setting of Freedom Park,” said Jennifer Charzewski, Principal at Liollio Architecture. “The Liollio and Hood Design Studio team sees this as an exciting opportunity to create an engaging and creative place for residents and visitors for generations to come.”
California-based Hood Design Studio, led by Charlotte native Walter Hood, will partner with Liollio on the Discovery Place Nature project. The studio’s award-winning landscape design, public art, installation art and urbanism unveil the emergent beauty, strangeness, subjectivity and idiosyncrasies of place. They root their design work in collaboration, seeing projects thrive under the joint efforts of design teams and through engagement with constituents and local communities.
Hood Design is well-known for their work, which includes projects such as The Broad Museum Plaza in Los Angeles, the new de Young Museum gardens in San Francisco, the Cooper-Hewitt Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden in New York City and the soon-to-open International African American Museum in Charleston, SC. The firm has been the recipient of several awards, including a California Preservation Award for Bayview Opera House from the California Preservation Foundation, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award in Landscape Design and Wall Street Journal’s Best Architecture Award for the University at Buffalo Solar Strand.
In 2021 founder Walter Hood was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York, which is “considered the highest form of recognition of artistic merit in the United States.”
Construction for the new Discovery Place Nature Museum is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2023.
About Discovery Place Nature
Founded in 1947 as the Children’s Nature Museum, Discovery Place Nature has been a staple in Charlotte’s education and cultural community for 75 years. The Museum conjures curiosity and activates the imagination through educational experiences that help us connect to the natural world. Guests can discover native animal species, encourage imaginative play in Fort Wild, take a family trek through the 100-year-old trees on the Paw Paw Nature Trail and explore the stars in the planetarium. For more information, visit discoveryplace.org or call 704.372.6261 x300.
About Liollio Architecture
Liollio believes creativity originates through the eyes and stories of communities based on subtle and restrained design, rooted in context, culture and collaboration. For over 63 years, Liollio has provided architecture, interior design, programming, historic preservation and master planning services. Liollio has been honored by the American Institute of Architects South Carolina Chapter as a Firm Award Recipient. Visit liollio.com for more info.
About Hood Design Studio
Hood Design Studio is tripartite practice, working across art + fabrication, design + landscape, and research + urbanism. The resulting urban spaces and their objects act as public sculpture, creating new apertures through which to see the surrounding emergent beauty, strangeness, and idiosyncrasies. The Studio’s award-winning work has been featured in publications including Dwell, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fast Company, Architectural Digest, Places Journal, and Landscape Architecture Magazine.
IN FOCUS A/E/C: Charleston Regional Business Journal - April 18, 2022
Mez Joseph
Dorchester County Ashley River Park Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Mez Joseph
Dorchester County’s Ashley River Park officially opens to the public this Saturday, March 19th! The park features many amenities and recreation activities for visitors of all ages - walking trails, a fishing pier, a dog park, interactive play fountain, an event pavilion, picnic shelters, a playground, open lawns, a restroom building, an outfitters building and a gatehouse. We are honored to have been part of the design team for this exciting project and hope that it’s a great community asset for years to come!
Ashley River Park is located near the beautiful scenic side of the Ashley River off of Bacon's Bridge Road. The park is open from dawn to dusk daily. For a complete list of Park Rules click here.
Liollio Architecture Elevates Daniel Corte to Associate
Mez Joseph
Daniel Corte, AIA, Associate
Liollio is pleased to announce the elevation of Daniel Corte, AIA, to Associate. The Liollio team celebrates Dan’s accomplishment and looks forward to his continued leadership.
Dan joined the Liollio team in 2012 and serves as a Federal Market Champion. He continues to work in Liollio’s design studio on a variety of project types, including Federal, Community, and Healthcare. Some of Dan’s recent and award-winning projects include the Charleston International Airport Terminal Redevelopment, South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Hardeeville Welcome Center, USC−Beaufort’s Hilton Head Hospitality Management Campus, City of Charleston’s Bender Street Park Event Space and Community Center, and the National Park Service U.S. Virgin Islands Lind Point Complex.
In his downtime, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, honing his DIY skills in woodworking, and spending time out on the water.
BE PART OF OUR TEAM: WE'RE HIRING!
Mez Joseph
We are seeking Project Architects & Project Designers! We’re excited to announce multiple career opportunities to join our growing downtown Charleston studio:
Project Architects
> 5 – 10 years experience in an architectural practice.
> Proficient in REVIT, Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office. Additional proficiency in Enscape, Rhino, or Grasshopper preferred.
> Comfortable in a highly collaborative setting.
> Familiarity with the design of public places preferred.
> Professional degree in architecture from an accredited university and registration required.
Project Designers
> 0-4 years of experience in architectural practice.
> Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office required. Additional proficiency in Revit and Enscape is preferred.
> Comfortable in a highly collaborative setting.
> Familiarity with the design of public places preferred.
> Professional degree in architecture from an accredited university.
The ideal candidates for both positions will be motivated, collaborative, creative, enthusiastic, professional, and must play well with others. We offer a competitive benefits package. If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@liollio.com.
Dinos Liollio Honored on 2021 Architects Power List
Mez Joseph
C. Dinos Liollio, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal
An Auburn University graduate, Dinos Liollio, FAIA, received a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a Bachelor of Science in environmental design. He served as president of the American Institute of Architects Student Chapter and was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal of Honor in recognition of his leadership, service and future impact to the architectural profession.
Liollio has served on national, regional and state design award juries, led many community design charrettes, and has lectured on collaboration as the vehicle to realize remarkable buildings that inspire people to think of design as a collective body of work.
His leadership has been recognized by the South Carolina Chapter and Charleston Section AIA, Urban Land Institute, Furman University Riley Leadership Institute, city of Charleston, Rotary International, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Charleston National Aging in Place Council and others.
Based upon his preservation background, he was awarded a 2005 Study Abroad Scholarship in Verona, Italy, with 30 other architects from around the world focusing on the conservation of stone and marble. Liollio has received more than 120 international, national, regional, state and local design awards and was chosen to be a part of the design team for Fire Station 11 that’s contiguous to the Charleston 9 Memorial site.
He served on national, regional and state design award juries, lectured at national, state and local professional and trade conferences, and was keynote speaker at the National Architectural Precast Association Design Awards. He was elected to the AIA College of Fellows and was appointed to the city of Charleston Design Review Board in 2017. He received a National American Institute of Architects Design Award for Hampton County Health Clinic in 2020.
Liollio Honored with 2021 AIA South Atlantic Region Aspire Design Awards
Mez Joseph
The AIA South Atlantic Region has a long-standing tradition of recognizing a broad range of architecture activity that exemplifies the values of the region and improves the quality of the built environment in the communities we serve. The SAR Design Awards program - a regional design awards covering Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina - seeks to highlight the diverse range of project types that exist within the region.
The 2021 AIA SAR Awards were recently presented, awarding 24 projects after receiving 240 submissions. Four of the 24 were Honor Awards, of which Liollio was honored with two - one for South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism’s Fort Mill Welcome Center, and the other for Richland Library St. Andrews in Columbia SC. Liollio would like to thank the AIA SAR Awards committee and jurors. Liollio would also like to congratulate all award recipients, as well as their clients, Richland Library and SCPRT!
About ASPIRE: Created by the state AIA chapters of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, the unconventional architecture conference influences artists, architects, designers, and engineers to design the future. Aspire debuted in 2019, transforming the beautiful and vibrant city of Asheville, North Carolina, into a nexus of architecture, design, and engineering. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aspire plans to return to Asheville NC in person in 2022. Learn more by visiting aspirexp.com
About AIA SAR: The American Institute of Architects South Atlantic Region is comprised of all of the Chapters in three states: Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and is home to more than 5,500 members. The AIA is the voice of the architectural profession and a resource for its members in service to society. We are dedicated to driving positive change in our communities through the power of design.
Click image above to view. the full awards ceremony or visit https://youtu.be/Tt2G2Zf0q3o
Big Changes Coming to CofC’s Simons Center for the Arts
Mez Joseph
The Simons Center opened at 54 St. Philip St. in 1979 | Images via CofC
Charleston City Paper
Samantha Connors
September 7, 2021
The 42-year-old Albert Simons Center for the Arts, located at 54 St. Philip St., is getting ready for a facelift. Opened in 1979, the center was originally built to accommodate a maximum of 800 students, but with increased admissions, the Simons Center serves more than five times that number these days according to College of Charleston’s School of the Arts Dean Edward Hart.
“The Simons Center has been great, but after 40 years, it needs a little work,” he said in a press release. “Better facilities make for a better environment. Everybody wants to be in a place where it looks and feels nice, and where there’s appropriate space.”
The multimillion dollar renovation project will expand the building from 87,365 square feet to 99,000 square feet with additional classrooms and performance space.
Other new features will include larger classrooms, new seminar rooms, a two-story black-box theater, costume shop, scene shop and theater design studio, sculpture, printmaking and drawing studios, music practice rooms and more.
“This has been a long time coming and we’re delighted,” said Hart. “We are so appreciative of the College’s administration for supporting us. You know, when times are tough, very often the arts take it on the chin. And our administration has shown the foresight to really stand by us with this project, which indicates that the arts really are a priority for the College.”
Construction will begin this fall and art classes will be moved to other areas of the campus and city including the former Redux building at 136 St. Philip St., the Lightsey Center and the Calhoun Annex. Renovations are expected to be complete by spring 2023.
Liollio Architecture and HGA Design Firm are tackling the redesign of the building and plan to incorporate bright colors that allude to familiar campus features like the Towell Library’s green door and Randolph Hall’s coral colored walls.
The renovation will not only make more run for incoming students but also help the school secure its place in Charleston’s flourishing art community.
“There really isn’t an artistic institution in this town that we aren’t somehow involved with, whether it’s a direct relationship or partnership or whether it’s our graduates that are over there or our faculty members,” said Hart, referencing the college’s involvement with many major art events and venues like Spoleto Festival USA and the Charleston Gaillard Center.
“We can just go on and on, and I think it’s time for us to claim that. Charleston is an arts city and we’re at the heart of it.”
The interior will feature some familiar elements, updated
College of Charleston Arts Building Set for Multimillion-Dollar Overhaul
Mez Joseph
A rendering shows a design of what the renovated Albert Simons Center could look like from St. Philip Street. College of Charleston/Provided
By Maura Hogan mhogan@postandcourier.com
The Post and Courier
Sep 3, 2021
The College of Charleston is set to begin a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Albert Simons Center for the Arts.
It realizes a plan that was set in motion by the college years ago.
“This has been a long time coming and we’re delighted,” School of the Arts Dean Edward Hart said in a statement.
From the project’s onset, the college estimated its cost at $50 million. The arts center, which is on St. Philip Street on the college campus, will be closed for the next two years while the 42-year-old building’s renovation is completed. The renovation will upgrade classrooms and performance spaces as well as the building’s technology and infrastructure. Construction is slated to begin in late September.
The College of Charleston’s Albert Simons Center for the Arts will undergo extensive renovations. File/Brad Nettles/Staff
Designed by Liollio Architecture and HGA Design Firm, the reimagined Simons Center is conceived to be inviting to students, featuring colors inspired by iconic architectural features found on campus, such as the blue-green door of Towell Library and the coral color of Randolph Hall.
“It will look brighter and I think it will be more noticeable from the street,” he said.
The work will involve 87,365 square feet, according to Brad Weiland, senior project manager for the College of Charleston’s facilities management, with the renovated Simons Center encompassing more than 99,000 square feet.
Hart points out that while the Simons Center has served the department well since opening in 1979, it was in need of an upgrade after more than 40 years. It opened with the aim of serving up to 800 students.
A rendering shows a possible design of what the renovated lobby of the Simons Center could look like, featuring large windows and tall ceilings. College of Charleston/Provided
Today, the College of Charleston said the building, which is the main hub of the School of the Arts, accommodates five times that number.
Among the key improvements will be new seminar classrooms, updated and enlarged classroom spaces and a new two-story black box theater. The School of the Arts will also benefit from a state-of-the-art costume shop, scene shop and theater design studio; new sculpture, printmaking and drawing studios; a digital lab and gallery/multipurpose room; new music practice rooms and revamped dressing room spaces.
The renovation also includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and updated technological systems.
Five locations around campus will house School of the Arts programs and departments during the renovation. These include Harbor Walk West, 136 St. Philip St. (the former site of Redux Contemporary Art Studio); the Lightsey Center, Calhoun Annex (172 Calhoun St./Chapel Theatre); and 329 King St. (corner of King and George streets).
A rendering shows a design of the main corridor inside the Albert Simons Center. College of Charleston/Provided
With the Recital Hall and the Emmett Robinson Theatre, located within the Simons Center, closed for the duration of the renovation, many School of the Arts performances will be held in the college’s Sottile Theatre as well as the Chapel Theatre.
Construction will run through 2022, and major completion of the building will take place in the spring of 2023, with an estimated opening for the fall 2023 semester, Weiland said.
With large windows, a modern façade and carefully chosen brick, Hart said the entrance is meant to subtly grab visitors’ attention as they make their way from the rear of Randolph Hall to St. Philip Street.
College of Charleston students visit the Albert Simons Center for the Arts in 2019. The building, located on St. Philips Street, soon will be getting a makeover. File/Brad Nettles/Staff
The building will also give added visual prominence to School of the Arts, and its role in the city of Charleston’s arts scene. It dovetails with new branding, centered on the tagline “The Artistic Heartbeat of Charleston.”
“There really isn’t an artistic institution in this town that we aren’t somehow involved with, whether it’s a direct relationship or partnership or whether it’s our graduates that are over there or our faculty members,” Hart said.
The College of Charleston has deep connections with Spoleto Festival USA, Piccolo Spoleto, the Charleston Symphony, the Charleston Gaillard Center, the Preservation Society of Charleston, as well as many area theater and dance companies and art galleries.
“We can just go on and on, and I think it’s time for us to claim that. Charleston is an arts city and we’re at the heart of it,” Hart said.
With such an integral role in Charleston’s arts scene, the significant investment also bodes well for continued arts vitality in the years ahead.
“When times are tough, very often the arts take it on the chin. And our administration has shown the foresight to really stand by us with this project, which indicates that the arts really are a priority for the College,” Hart said.
Rick & Mary Lee Bastin Honored in Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for The Citadel's Bastin Hall
Mez Joseph
Bastin Hall, The Citadel's new school of business, was dedicated May 14. The design and construction was overseen by Liollio Architecture in association with ikon.5 architects. THS Constructors served as the general contractor for the project. Liollio is proud to have been part of this phenomenal and exciting project.
The new Bastin Hall building is a modern upgrade from the previous business school home. Originally constructed in 1922, Bond Hall has housed business school classrooms since the 1970s. “There’s a lot of state-of-the-art space here that we just didn’t have in our old building,” Dr. Michael Weeks, Dean said.
“I was a Mercedes dealer, and the CEO of Mercedes used to preach to us: ‘We need to amaze and delight our customers.’ Well, this building amazes and delights me, and it’s beyond my greatest dreams that it would come out this well,” said Rick Bastin, '65, joined by his wife Mary Lee, during a ceremony recognizing the couple’s efforts that made The Citadel's newest academic building a reality. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.
Liollio Architecture Elevates 3 Team Members to Associate
Mez Joseph
Liollio Architecture is pleased to announce the elevation of Alison Dawson, Mez Joseph, and Aaron Bowman to Associate. The Liollio team celebrates this accomplishment and looks forward to their continued leadership.
Alison Dawson, AIA, joined the Liollio team in 2012. Alison knows that change is constant and takes pride in being part of the conversations and solutions required to meet the challenges of rapidly growing areas. Her work is rooted in thoughtful investigation and understanding of client and community needs. She brings her continued passion to the team as our Preservation Champion and is a leader in the design studio. Alison’s current projects focus on community design, adaptive reuse, rehabilitation, and preservation.
Mez Joseph joined the Liollio team in 2013 and contributes over 20 years of design and marketing experience. He’s an accomplished visual craftsman and brand-enabler, with great enthusiasm for art, design, illustration, photography, typography, and brand identity. His work at Liollio includes branding, print and web collateral, illustration, presentations, publications, and project graphic design, signage, and visual communications. Mez’s work as a graphic designer in the studio supports our clients in translating their vision into reality.
Aaron Bowman, AIA, joined the Liollio team in 2016 and is the founding Chair of AIA SC’s Resilience Committee. He currently serves on the Resilience & Adaptation Advisory Group for AIA National and the AIA SC Executive Board. Aaron serves as K12 Market Champion and his work at Liollio focuses on public architecture in communities across South Carolina and the southeast region. Aaron views each project as an opportunity to engage stakeholders in the process to create more socially, economically, and environmentally resilient places.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE TEAM? WE ARE HIRING!
Mez Joseph
We are currently seeking a Project Architect, Construction Contract Administrator, and Business Development Coordinator. We are excited to announce multiple immediate career opportunities to join our growing downtown Charleston studio:
Project Architect
> 5 – 10 years experience in an architectural practice.
> Proficient in REVIT, Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office. Additional proficiency in Enscape, Rhino, or Grasshopper preferred.
> Comfortable in a highly collaborative setting.
> Familiarity with the design of public places preferred.
> Professional degree in architecture from an accredited university and registration required.
Construction Contract Administrator
> 5+ years experience in the AEC industry.
> Architectural education or background preferred.
> Proficient in MS Office applications.
> Experience with a variety of construction management software platforms preferred.
> Familiarity with commercial & public-sector construction practices and construction contracts required.
> Ability to work creatively & collaboratively within a studio environment required.
> Familiarity with multidisciplinary teams and with collaboration between the design team, owner, and contractor required.
Business Development Coordinator
> 5+ years professional experience required, AEC industry preferred
> Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office applications.
> Ability to work creatively & collaboratively within a studio environment required.
> Strong communication skills - graphic, verbal, and written - required.
> This position has a direct impact on client and staff relations, team partners, production, business development, marketing, public relations, and the overall reputation of the firm.
> Lead in scheduling, organizing, collaborating, and producing all business development efforts for the firm; assist in scheduling, organizing, collaborating, and producing all marketing/public relations efforts for the firm.
The ideal candidates for all three positions will be motivated, collaborative, creative, enthusiastic, professional, and must play well with others. We offer a competitive benefits package. If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@liollio.com.
About Liollio: Liollio believes creativity originates through the eyes and stories of communities based on subtle and restrained design, rooted in context, culture, and collaboration. For more than 64 years, Liollio has provided architecture, interior design, programming, historic preservation, and master planning services. Liollio has been honored by the American Institute of Architects South Carolina Chapter as a Firm Award Recipient − the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a SC firm. Visit liollio.com for more info.
Liollio Architecture Awarded Two 2020 AIA South Carolina Design Awards
Mez Joseph
Thank you AIA South Carolina for honoring two of our projects: City of CharIeston & Roper St. Francis Healthcare's Louis Waring, Jr. Senior Center with an AIA SC New Construction Merit Award, and; SCPRT's South Carolina Welcome Center Replacement in Hardeeville SC with an AIA SC New Construction Citation Award! Congratulations to all of this year's award recipients and all the talented architects, designers, artists, and engineers!
Happy Holidays from your friends at Liollio!
Mez Joseph
Spotlight On: Cameron Foster
Mez Joseph
Liollio is pleased to welcome Cameron Foster, Associate AIA, to our design studio! A native of Richland WA, Cameron completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Portland State University and his Master of Architecture at Clemson University. Prior to his academic career and joining the Liollio team, Cameron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2010. After allowing Cameron a bit of time to settle in, we sat down for a little Q&A with our newest Spotlight On feature.
How long have you lived in Charleston?
We moved here 2 years ago, but I have only physically been here for about a year because of school.
Where did you grow up?
The evergreen state of Washington; in a desert. Richland, WA to be exact.
Are you married? Children?
I have been married to my wife Kelty for 9 years in October, and we have 2 dogs that we treat like kids.
What is your favorite non-living thing in your home?
Nintendo 64
What do you like to do when you have free time?
Kelty and I love the beach or trying new places with food and drinks.
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
We have a 9-year-old fluffball by the name of Reggie. He can be identified as a Pekingese. We also have an 8-year-old ham with selective hearing named Penny who can be identified as an English Bulldog, or a pig. They’re awesome.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Making it 29 years.
What building have you visited that most impressed you?
Notre-Dame du Haut, a.k.a Ronchamp
What architect or architecture firm most influenced you as a student?
Olson Kundig is my favorite, I love the way they are able to use nature in design. But I went to Switzerland last year and find myself referencing back to Herzog De Meuron buildings a lot… so I guess it depends on the day for me.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
I would say either Okinawa, Japan or Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both places are full of friendly people. It’s all about the people. But Alaska is pretty neat as well.
What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The studio culture is great, and everyone genuinely cares about the work each person is doing. I had the opportunity to learn from a few of the principals at the firm while studying at Clemson and it was evident from the beginning that collaboration is a key trait at Liollio, and that has only been made more clear since working here that some of our best work comes from discussion and contribution in the design of projects. And of course, the people are awesome, and you can tell that it is more than just a work relationship for everybody. We are able to have fun together at lunches, events, happy hours, etc. … When COVID-19 isn’t happening.
What inspires you most?
Knowing that one day I will have little mini-me’s that are going to look up to me.
What style of architecture most impresses you or is your favorite?
I am impressed by repurposed/restored architecture; the blending of historic and contemporary is pretty fascinating to me. It creates such unique places with so much character and gives such varied effects.
What is your favorite book?
You are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For by Don Yaeger and Kyle Carpenter
What is your favorite restaurant?
Chapala Express in Richland, WA
What’s your favorite place in Charleston?
Any of the beaches.
What is your favorite food?
Tacos and Enchiladas.
What is your least favorite food?
Cereal creeps me out.
If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
I hate snakes, so I’d like to be a Mongoose or something cool like that who won’t take any bad business from snakes.
Do you play any instruments?
My Grandpa bought me a Harmonica when I was younger.
What song is at the top of your most played list?
I’m not sure but probably Rocketman or the Cops theme song Bad Boys.
Who is your favorite musical artist or genre?
I like a lot of different music ,but as of late, I find Tyler Childers to be the frequent.
Who is your favorite artist?
Claude Monet had a nice touch.
Favorite television show?
Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders or How I Met Your Mother.
Last book you read?
HOG’s in the Shadow by Milo S. Afong. If I am not studying, I typically read military books.
Do you have a favorite book or author?
Roald Dahl
Last movie you watched?
Django Unchained. Netflix has had me on a Quentin Tarantino binge as of late.
Favorite movie or genre?
Bad Boys II… I know every word.
Any random fact you could share with us?
The Earth is flat.
Are you messy or organized?
Not messy.
Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog or website?
ESPN is a good one.
Favorite quote?
If it’s not broke, don’t fix it – not sure of anybody specific saying it before, but I’d bet someone scholarly has said it.
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Ernest Hemingway
If your house was burning down, What is the one nonliving thing you would save?
Aside from my important personal identifying documents/records, my old alice pack with a bunch of my old sentimental stuff
Guilty pleasure?
Double Stuffed Oreos
What’s your astrological sign?
Cancer
What three traits define you?
Committed. Humble. Not normal but not weird.
What is your personal philosophy?
It’s better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
COVID-19 has made me realize that I really enjoy sports and social activities.
What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Well I guess I would have to go with a combat deployment to Afghanistan or winning an argument with my wife.
What is your greatest fear?
Spiders
What does true leadership mean to you?
Working alongside rather than from ahead.
If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A tuk tuk driver in Bangkok.
What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Try everything.
How do you define success?
Being able to look back and have appreciation for the work you have done to get here; and enjoying yourself.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I don’t have pinky toenails.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Keep your head down.
Liollio Architecture Welcomes Cameron Foster
Mez Joseph
Cameron Foster Associate AIA
Liollio Architecture is pleased to welcome Cameron Foster to its design studio. Originally from Richland WA, Cameron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2010. After his service in the military, he fulfilled his aspiration of studying architecture and went on to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Portland State University and his Master of Architecture at Clemson University.
Cameron is passionate about community-based, sustainable, and innovative design and the influences of academia on architecture. He has a strong appreciation for architecture that is restored or re-used in order to facilitate progressive cultivation of community, while maintaining historic and cultural value. Upon joining the Liollio team, Cameron’s work has consisted of Community and Healthcare projects. Cameron enjoys the beach, traveling, sports, and spending time with his wife and dogs. The Liollio team celebrates Cameron’s achievements and welcomes him to its studio.
STUDIOLLIO
Mez Joseph
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#Studiollio - In the Fall of 2019, Liollio Principals Andy Clark and Jennifer Charzewski co-taught a firm design studio as lecturers for Clemson University’s School of Architecture at the Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston. Students experienced an academic design studio through the lens of a professional teaching studio. The studio explored the City of Charleston and it’s grappling with change due to climate, technology, population, economics and mobility. Students investigated critical issues with a focus on how design can improve resiliency and cultural connectivity within a city.
A vibrant city is a living, breathing organism, and the civic infrastructure and architecture connect the identity, aspirations, and human story of the occupants to each other and to the past, present, and future. Architecture is intrinsically linked to landscape architecture and site in a hybrid conversation, rather than two separate entities. Similarly, the infrastructure that connects and moves people should participate in this hybrid conversation, and can reveal the opportunities that exist to grow in healthy ways.
Programmatically, Charleston is also confronting a tenuous balance between the tourism industry which undergirds the city’s economy, and the desire to be a livable city for all residents. Whereas development in housing, retail, food service, and offices is booming, it is often the cultural institutions and public parks that really bring a city to life and give it depth and a voice to residents.
Charleston is home to many preeminent programs and buildings for the visual and performing arts, and includes an aquarium, a history museum, and a children’s museum. However, there is a notable absence of a museum or center for nature and science –which are both integral to life in the Lowcountry and to supporting workforce development and STEM education.
The design projects provided the students with an opportunity to investigate these ideas and opportunities, further refine their critical and strategic approach in an iterative design process across a variety of scales, and develop requisite design and presentation communication skills. As a firm-led studio, the unique perspective of a practicing firm provided opportunities to intersect the academy with practice, including connecting students to professional mentors and enriching the firm with academic investigation.
Spotlight On: Lance Eubanks
Mez Joseph
Liollio is pleased to welcome Lance Eubanks, Associate AIA, LEED AP, to our design studio! A native of Mississippi, Lance completed his Bachelor of Architecture at Mississippi State University. Prior to joining Liollio, Lance worked as a Project Manager and Project Architect with ZGF Architects in Washington DC. After giving Lance a bit of time to settle in, we sat down for a little Q&A with our newest Spotlight On feature.
How long have you lived in Charleston?
A little over two months.
Where did you grow up?
About five miles outside of Lucedale, Mississippi – a tiny town near the Gulf Coast.
Are you married? Children?
Not married, but I moved here with my partner, Justin.
What is your favorite nonliving thing in your home?
I have a cedar chest that was originally my Great Aunt’s dowry chest from around 1930. It somehow made its way to me. It’s moved with me everywhere I’ve been since college, and I would probably try to carry it out if my house caught on fire.
What do you like to do when you have free time?
Social distancing has taught me that I need more hobbies. I try to spend as much time outside as possible. Virtual game nights and cooking keep me going while I’m stuck in the house.
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
We have a dog named Bee. She’s an eight year old Beagle mix, and she will literally never turn down an offer for someone to pet her. She’ll let you go for three hours straight if you’re up for it.
What architect or architecture firm most influenced you as a student?
I have always loved Tadao Ando’s work. What he does with natural light in his projects, in the simplest way possible, has always amazed me.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Florence, Italy has to be my favorite. Ankara, Turkey is probably the most interesting place I’ve been.
What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
When I was moving to Charleston and looking for a job, I read a few of the Spotlight On posts on the Liollio website. Everyone said that their favorite thing about working here is the people. Well, they were right. I have been blown away at how many awesome people I get to work with.
What inspires you most?
People. All of them. Everyone has an interesting perspective to offer to the world.
What is your favorite restaurant?
So far, Leon’s on King Street is my favorite Charleston spot, but there are so many more places to try.
What’s your favorite place in Charleston?
The beach at Sullivan’s Island at sunset has been my happy place so far.
What is your favorite food?
I could eat seafood every day for the rest of my life. Let’s hope I don’t get mercury poisoning.
What is your least favorite food?
I’ll eat almost anything, but the sight of blue cheese is sickening to me.
Do you play any instruments?
I was in the band in high school, and I played the trombone. It’s been a really long time since I’ve played though.
Who or what is your favorite musical artist or genre?
So, I like a lot of musicians, but Dolly Parton definitely has the number one spot. She’s a great songwriter, and she has this warm and positive personality that is infectious.
Favorite television show?
Law & Order (original) is always on the DVR. The Sopranos was fantastic. Right now, we’re watching The Crown, Schitt’s Creek, and Grace and Frankie.
Last book you read?
Educated by Tara Westover.
Last movie you watched?
The Irishman
Favorite movie or genre?
The Godfather is a classic.
Are you messy or organized?
The kitchen is spotless. Sometimes the closet overflows.
Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog or website?
I love local news. I got a subscription to the Post and Courier before I moved here. I also really enjoy reading CityLab online.
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Betty White
If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
The March on Washington in 1963 must have been a truly amazing sight.
What would the book or movie about your life be called?
Life of a Klutz: How to Get Back Up Again
What’s your astrological sign?
I’m a Capricorn. I don’t think it matters, but I’ll still read a horoscope every now and again.
What is your personal philosophy?
Treat others well.
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
My people. I’ve always thought this, but recent events have completely reinforced that for me.
What does true leadership mean to you?
Empowering the people around you to be their best self and do their best at whatever they are doing.
If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
It’s a toss-up between a chef and a retirement home activity director.
How do you define success?
Being happy, healthy, and engaged.
USCB Hilton Head Hospitality Management Campus Featured in Local Life Magazine
Mez Joseph
LOCAL Life Magazine, a publication celebrating the stories, culture, and people that make Hilton Head, Beaufort & Bluffton SC unique, showcases the University of South Carolina-Beaufort's Hilton head Hospitality Management Campus as a backdrop to a fashion shoot, while providing details on the building’s design. Visit www.locallifesc.com for more.
