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1640 Meeting Street Road, Suite 202
Charleston, SC, 29405
United States

8437622222

For 70 years, Liollio has provided sustainable architecture, interior design, and historic preservation for public projects. We are an award-winning architecture firm located in Charleston, SC, who value subtle & restrained design, rooted in context, culture & collaboration. 

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News

"SHOWING OFF BELLS"

Mez Joseph

In need of a new school to replace an aging facility, Liollio Architecture was retained by the Colleton County School District to design a new 45,000 SF building that would assist the educators in delivering the Colleton County educational curriculum for their students, serve the needs of the community and continue to be a gathering place they could be proud of. This project included careful phasing of site work and construction of the new building, while the existing school remained functional and occupied by staff and students throughout the school year. Separate vehicular and bus loops were added to improve traffic flow and student safety, and staff parking was added that doubles as event parking for after hours performances and community events. Assembly areas, including a multi-purpose area, cafeteria, performance stage, kitchen and public restrooms are conveniently located for use while the school is closed. Design features such as abundant natural light, grand entry corridors and pops of color were utilized to create a secure, inspiring, bright, playful environment, while the integration of new technology addressed the educational needs of a 21st century school. Walterboro’s The Press and Standard recently published an article by George Salsberry about Bells Elementary School:

Showing Off Bells

By George Salsberry
gsalsberry@lowcountry.com

The students of Bells Elementary School and their parents got their first look at their new school Saturday morning. Last spring, the students left for the summer from their old school building, Saturday they returned to find the old school house gone and a new one in its place.

Bells Elementary School Principal Lauren Behie stationed herself in the hallway just inside the school’s main entrance to welcome the children and their parents to the new facility.

“We have undergone a huge transformation from where we were to where we are now.  We truly have a showplace.  We have a building that our community can be proud of, that our students can be proud to attend and where our teachers have a place where they can be proud to work,” Behie said. She said as the start of school neared, the teachers couldn’t wait to check out the new facilities. “They called, texted and emailed, asking when can they get in, when can they get in, because they are so raring to go.”

They were able to get into the school building on Aug. 8 and begin the task of preparing their classrooms for a new school year.  “They have been working hard.” Saturday morning, Behie said, saw a steady stream of students and their parents visiting the new facilities. Behie said the parents commenting on how beautiful the building was, “that they were so proud of it.”

“When the students come in, their faces are in awe; they don’t know what to think when they come in the door,”  Behie said. “Some of them have been a little nervous about how they are going to navigate the building.”

Getting the students use to the building, giving them an idea of where their new classrooms were, was one of the reasons for the open house. And the teachers, students and parents were not the only ones excited to see the latest version of Bells Elementary.

Lawrence Heyward Ulmer, Bells High School Class of 1958, made the trip down from Columbia to get a look at the new school. Ulmer, in recent years, has dedicated his time to take on the task of putting old and new yearbooks from Colleton County schools on line. Ulmer brought down a Bells High School 1956 yearbook, and he offered kindergarten teacher Phyllis Murdaugh and Cynthia Marcus, her classroom assistant, a chance to look at the yearbook.  “If you want to see what I looked like, I was a good looking kid back in those days,” he said. He admitted that there was not a lot of competition for the title – “There were 32 of us.”

Murdaugh, a teacher for 38 years, 36 of them at Bells Elementary, was intrigued, pointing out that her mother had graduated from Ruffin High School in 1958, the same year as Ulmer.  Murdaugh, Marcus offered, taught the parents of the children she now had in her class.

Back then, Ulmer said, the new school year did not start until after Labor Day.  The students would return to the classroom after the crops were in. “I picked tobacco five days a week – two days for my dad, three days for the other farmers,” Ulmer said. Those days would begin at 5 a.m., by noon the harvesting was done for the day.  But not his work day.  Others would dry out the tobacco leaves.  At about 5 p.m., he would be back to work placing the leaves in the barn for curing. For that work, Ulmer and his companions received $5 a day.

Ulmer said the typing class he took at Bells High School ended up being the class that played the most prominent role in his life. He went in the U.S. Army, where his typing sills landed him desk duties.  One out of the service, he worked for a number of companies, and one again his typing skills proved beneficial.  As typewriters were replaced by computers, he made the transition.  “I’ve been using computers for 50 years.”

At a recent school board meeting, it was reported that the Bells building is about 75 percent complete.  Work continues on the cafeteria and multi-purpose facilities.

Behie said a ribbon-cutting for the new school will be scheduled after the work is finished. “It is going to be a good year,” Behie predicted.

Comment

General Services Administration Redevelopment of St. Elizabeths Campus

Mez Joseph

The former St Elizabeths Hospital campus is a National Historic Landmark Site that was founded in 1855 as a Government Hospital for the insane. The original hospital building was a variation on the Kirkbride plan that sought to use building design and organization to provide a more humane treatment environment. The massive undertaking being led by Goody Clancy is perhaps the largest public building project since the Pentagon. Once completed, the campus will comprise roughly 4.5 million gross square feet of office and related space for approximately 14,000 employees. The campus will serve as the consolidated headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security including a National Operations Center and individual headquarters for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Liollio’s role in this historic project has been to complete an assessment, documentation and cataloguing of all exterior windows and doors for 16 buildings. Following the extensive on site evaluations, Liollio will complete window schedules and details that layout existing conditions and necessary repairs for each window. Read more about the GSA Development of St. Elizabeths Campus here.

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THE 2016 CRBJ FORTY UNDER 40 AWARDS CEREMONY

Mez Joseph

The 2016 Charleston Regional Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Awards Ceremony was held Thursday night at Alhambra Hall in Mount Pleasant. Liollio's Alison Dawson, Associate AIA, was honored as one of this year's winners. Principals,  Dinos & Cherie Liollio, Rick Bousquet and Jay White were all in attendance, along with Alison's husband and parents. Congratulations Alison & all the deserving recipients!

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tags #40CHS, #chsnews, #crbj, #AIA, #AIASC

LOUISVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: KENTUCKY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL

Mez Joseph

Louisville Free Public Library, in Louisville KY, was named Kentucky's Most Beautiful Library by Tech Insider. Tech Insider recently named "The Most Beautiful Library in Each US State" and St. Helena Library in St. Helena Island SC was honored as South Carolina's most beautiful. The Louisville Free Public Library won an Honor Award as part of the AIA's 2016 Kentucky Design Awards for its overlapping wooden facade. Liollio's Geoff Mohney, AIA, LEED AP, had meetings for projects at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville KY. Liollio Architecture is currently repairing foundations and re-building a failing retaining wall at the historic Mission 66 Visitor Center and will be correcting ADA-deficient walkways around the site.  Hodgenville is approximately an hour south of Louisville, so while Geoff was there, he decided to stop and visit Kentucky's most beautiful library to take some photos. Thank you Geoff for sharing!

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tags #nps, #louisville, #kentucky, #techinsider, #library, #sthelenalibrary, #abrahamlincoln, #nationalhistoricsite

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON PRESERVES ITS PAST, BUILDING BY BUILDING

Mez Joseph

Sometimes it’s the least expected encounters that make the most difference. And that’s just what happened in the case of the Hugh P. Cameron House, one of the many historic homes on campus and headquarters for the College’s Historic Preservation and Community Planning Program (HPCP). Read the entire article...

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tags #preservation, #cofc, #charleston, #liollio, #architecture, #bennettpreservation

"On the Boards"

Mez Joseph

Visit our newest Portfolio tab ON THE BOARDS to see a sample of projects we are  currently in the process of completing and are excited to share with you!

Comment

Charleston County Public Library Adds Thousands of Free Downloadable Items to Website

Mez Joseph

Hundreds of thousands of eBooks, audio books, songs and movies are now available for local residents to download or stream free – if they have a Charleston County Public Library card. In addition to the free digital services already offered through CCPL’s website, the library has added new downloadable and streaming materials from hoopla digital (note: both words are lowercase). This new service includes:

  • More than 100,000 eBooks
  • More than 33,000 audio books
  • More than 275,000 albums
  • More than 11,000 movies
  • More than 1,300 television shows

More than 6,000 comic books

This is in addition to the more than 10,000 eBooks, 4,000 audio books, nine million songs, nearly 200 different magazine titles and thousands of films already offered for free download by visiting the library’s website – www.ccpl.org and clicking the Downloadable Media link in the left vertical color bar to explore all the options available any time of the day or night. A free hoopla mobile app lets users easily download items to their iOS or Android devices, or users can click on the hoopladigital.com webpage link on the library’s Downloadable Media page to download items to their computer or mobile device. Additionally, hoopla includes a ‘Kids Mode’ option that allows parents to limit a child’s browsing to content designed specifically for a younger audience. With hoopla, residents can check out up to 10 items per calendar month. Checkout periods are:

  • eBooks, audio books and comics – 21 days
  • Music – seven days
  • ovies and Television Shows – three days

    There is no waiting period for popular titles on hoopla digital, and the automatic return function prevents late fees. Essentially, CCPL customers can access hoopla content whenever they want, wherever they want.

    If you want to download or stream items, but don’t have a library card, stop by any of CCPL’s 16 branch locations or complete an application online. Cards are free for Charleston County residents, business owners, property owners, students, teachers of accredited K-12 grade schools, members of the military and employees of Charleston County.

    Visit the library’s Downloadable Media Page to check out all the free digital materials available.
Comment

South Carolina's Most Beautiful Library is...

Mez Joseph

Congratulations St. Helena Library! Named SC's Most Beautiful Library by Tech Insider!
Tech Insider chose a library from each state as "the most beautiful", and here is what they said about South Carolina: "In St. Helena Island, the St. Helena Branch Library creates a cozy environment with lattice-enclosed reading spaces inside, and relaxing open spaces outside."
Read full article here.

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Liollio Welcomes 3 New Team Members

Mez Joseph

Liollio Architecture is pleased to announce the addition of three new team members to our Design Studio – (pictured from left to right) Sarah Glass, Associate AIA, Allie Beck, Associate AIA and Aaron Bowman, AIA LEED AP. Aaron joined Liollio in May, contributing an impressive wealth of experience as a Project Architect to the Design Team. He is currently serving as President-Elect for AIA Charleston and is on the State Chapter’s Board of Directors. Allie and Sarah, both Clemson Graduates, relocated to Charleston to join Liollio as Project Designers. Their enthusiasm, determination, drive and talent are a welcome addition to the Studio.

Liollio Architecture is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. Headquartered in Charleston SC, Liollio offers architecture, interior design, programming, historic preservation and master planning services. Subscribe to our blog and follow us on Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for more info!

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TRAVEL + LEISURE VOTES CHARLESTON #1 CITY IN THE WORLD

Mez Joseph

Travel + Leisure Readers have spoken, and southern charm is a force to be reckoned with! Congrats Charleston SC!! You are officially the #1 CITY IN THE WORLD!! Click image above or here to watch the video of Stephen Colbert and his close ties to the World's Best City. Congratulations to our neighbor, Savannah GA, who made the Top 15 list, coming in at #9. For the full list click here.

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Congratulations to Liollio's Alison Dawson, 2016 Forty Under 40 Honoree!!

Mez Joseph

We are all so proud of and happy for Designer, Alison Dawson, Associate AIA, who has just been announced as one of the Charleston Regional Business Journal's 2016 Forty Under 40!! Alison is a dedicated, hard-working and talented Designer, who puts her heart and soul into everything she does here at Liollio and for all of our clients. We are blessed to have her in our creative gang, and celebrate this honor with her! Cheers to you Alison, there is no one more deserving! Read the CRBJ's list of 2016 honorees here.

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Congratulations Sibel Dewees!!

Mez Joseph

Congratulations to Liollio Designer David Dewees' wife, Sibel Dewees, who became an American citizen today! Dinos Liollio joined David and Sibel at the Naturalization Oath Ceremony this morning. Everyone at Liollio is so happy for you both! 

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tags #americancitizen, #naturalization, #sibeldewees, #american

Happy Birthday Seth!

Mez Joseph

Last Thursday the office celebrated the birthday of Liollio's Seth Cantley, Architect. Donuts, fruit and fun were had by all. Happy Birthday Seth!

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Pray For Orlando

Mez Joseph

Please pray for the victims, families and friends affected by the horrific tragedy in Orlando over the weekend. You can visit https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund to donate. Funds raised on this page will be going directly to the victims and families affected by the shooting. Equality Florida is working with local organizations - who are also helping to raise funds - to ensure the money is distributed properly. Thank you for your prayers and support.

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tags #prayfororlando, #loveconquershate