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Clemson University Wood Utilization + Design Institute South Carolina’s Innovative Wood Buildings - Wood is the most sustainable and environmentally sound building material. To show how innovative, versatile and beautiful wood is, Clemson University is featuring wood buildings that have been built in our state over the past ten years. Check out the map.
Allie Beck, AIA
Liollio Architecture is pleased to congratulate Allie Beck, AIA, for earning her architectural licensure and becoming a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a professional organization for architects in the United States. A registered architect must complete an internship and pass a rigorous series of examinations offered by official architectural registration boards in the United States and Canada. The Liollio team celebrates Allie and her achievement.
A Texas native, Allie received her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M and Master of Architecture degree from Clemson University. She relocated to Charleston in 2016 to join the Liollio team as Project Designer. Since then, her project work has ranged in size and scope, strengthening her design, attention to detail, communication and collaborative skills. Her recent work includes the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry Play Pavilion, USC South Caroliniana Library renovation, a number of historic preservation projects at Historic Brattonsville, as well as Discovery Place Nature, a nature museum in Charlotte NC.
The College of Charleston’s Albert Simons Center for the Arts will undergo extensive renovations beginning in the spring of 2020. Brad Nettles/Staff - Brad Nettles bnettles@postandcourier.com
By Adam Parker aparker@postandcourier.com
The Post & Courier
Aug 18, 2019
The College of Charleston’s Albert Simons Center, home to the School of the Arts, will undergo a $50 million makeover next year.
What will the final product look like? No one knows.
The team at Liollio Architecture has been reconceiving the interior of the 80,000-square-foot Simons Center for a few years now, but no clear exterior designs have been produced yet “because there’s no agreement on what outside should look like,” said Valerie Morris, dean of the School of the Arts.
A few broad concepts are clear: The building needs a better main entrance and lobby; it needs to complement the adjacent Marion and Wayland H. Cato Jr. Center for the Arts, which opened in 2010; and it needs to fit into the campus aesthetic.
Incoming freshmen at the College of Charleston visit the Albert Simons Center for the Arts on Monday, August 12, 2019. The building, located on St. Philips Street, soon will be getting a makeover. Brad Nettles/Staff - Brad Nettles bnettles@postandcourier.com
The modern red brick building on St. Philips Street sits at the end of a campus thoroughfare and is highly visible. The new design should acknowledge the need to create a welcoming front door and public space, and to connect with adjacent buildings, said Liollio lead architect Jennifer Charzewski.
“We want a design that celebrates the creativity of the arts,” she said.
When the College of Charleston’s Albert Simons Center was built 40 years ago, around 800 students made use of the building. Today, that number is more like 5,000.
The availability of the building’s performance venues helped convince Gian Carlo Menotti in the mid-1970s to locate Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston. As a result, the Simons Center quickly became “one of the primary places the public interacts with the college,” Charzewski said.
The building’s renovation has been a long time in the making.
In 1994, the college introduced plans to upgrade the School of the Arts facilities and engaged architect Robert Stern to oversee the effort.
He conceived a neoclassical structure to match Randolph Hall across the street, but the Board of Architectural Review wanted something more modern, recalled Morris, the school’s dean. Then, residents of the neighborhood and others insisted on Stern’s approach. In the end, the college engaged Stevens & Wilkinson, which operated out of Columbia, to complete the $27 million project.
By then costs had gone up, so officials divided the School of the Arts renovation effort into two projects. The Simons Center would have to wait for the completion of another big renovation project: the $80 million Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center and Physicians Auditorium.
But all’s well that ends well, Morris said. The Joint Bond Review Committee late last month approved the plan to finance the renovation project with $45 million in proceeds from the issuance of academic and Administrative Facilities bonds. Another $5 million will come from nonrecurring state appropriations, revenues from college fees and, mostly, capital project institutional funds.
A woman makes her way down the second floor hallway of the College of Charleston’s Albert Simons Center for the Arts on Monday, August 12, 2019. Brad Nettles/Staff - Brad Nettles bnettles@postandcourier.com
Student fees and tuition are not expected to go up because of the project, according to the college, although the Capital Improvement Fee, which is derived from a portion of tuition, has been increased three times in the last five years, from $781 per student per semester to $878 per student per semester.
Morris said she expects to move out of the Simons Center next summer and use the Harbor Walk buildings near the S.C. Aquarium for administrative offices, classrooms and more. The Chapel Theatre on Calhoun Street, Sottile Theatre on George Street and local church sanctuaries will provide performance space while the three Simons Center venues are shut down.
(Meanwhile, the Sottile Theatre is also undergoing renovation. It closed in February for $4.7 million in stage upgrades, and is slated to reopen in time for the 2020 Spoleto Festival.)
The revised interior of the Simons Center will include a new black box theater, state-of-the-art classrooms and upgraded infrastructure components such as bathrooms, HVAC and power stations. Heating and cooling problems will be resolved, along with the mold issue, Morris said.
Charzewski said the project also will upgrade mechanical and electrical systems while incorporating sustainable energy and flood protection.
The renovation, she said, will change the face of the St. Philip Street corridor. Liollio is partnering on the renovation with Minneapolis-based HGA Architects, which specializes in arts, education and civic projects.
The courtyard at the College of Charleston’s Albert Simons Center for the Arts fronts St. Philip Street and likely will be transformed by the upcoming renovation project led by Liollio Architects. Brad Nettles/Staff - Brad Nettles bnettles@postandcourier.com
Rodney Lee Rogers, an adjunct theater professor, said the new black box theater — a small, square performance space — will provide welcomed flexibility. The smaller, malleable venue will enable students to rehearse more easily, to experiment and to stage their own plays, Rogers said.
“I think a black box for training is the most versatile kind of set-up you can have,” he said. “You can do a lot of things quickly ... and it’s more about performance.”
It’s great to have the Sottile Theatre and access to other big stages in town, but that’s not what students need most, Rogers said.
“For most actors, they’re going to be cutting their teeth in more adaptive smaller spaces, because they’re not going to get into the bigger spaces for a while.”
Currently, the Simons Center is about 80,000 square feet, Charzewski said. The project team will renovate 65,000 square feet, rebuild 15,000 square feet and add 10,000 square feet.
The third and final state-level review conducted by the State Fiscal and Accountability Authority on Aug. 13 was the last hurdle cleared, she said. The city’s Board of Architectural Review will have a chance to scrutinize the plans.
The work likely will begin in the summer of 2020 with the temporary relocation of the art school, followed by a groundbreaking in the fall of 2020, according to Paul Patrick, chief of staff to the president. School officials hope the project will be finished in time for the 2022-23 academic year.
Meanwhile, the College of Charleston will consider other pressing capital projects, President Andrew Hsu said. A campus that’s 250 years old needs constant attention, he noted.
Liollio is pleased to welcome Charles Kane, AIA to our studio! Charles is a licensed architect with 5 years of diverse professional experience. As a student, Charles studied in the U.S, China, Italy and Greece; through his studies he gained a deep appreciation for history and context. After giving him 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 month
What brought you to Charleston?
Marshland, cheese grits and history
Where did you grow up?
Outside of Charlotte, NC
What other places (cities) do you call home, if any?
Miami & Charlotte
Are you married? Do you have children?
Leslie and I have been married for 3 years, and we have a dog named Greg—he is childlike.
Tell us a bit about Greg.
Greg is an 8 lb. terrier/chihuahua mix who is friendlier than Mr. Rogers and faster than Usain Bolt.
What is your favorite thing in your house?
An ivy covered window in the bedroom.
What do you like to do when you have free time?
Read books, doodle, and walk around.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Most recently, Leslie and I moved a 100 lb. chest of drawers up a 2’ wide flight of stairs.
What building have you visited that most impressed you?
Scamozzi’s Rocca Pisana is a 16th century villa in Northern Italy. It sits on top of a knoll and overlooks a bunch of vineyards. It’s a very simple stone house with an impressive, recessed portico and stunning views to the landscape.
What architect or architecture firm most influenced you as a student?
Aldo Rossi and Piranesi are two big influences for me because the city was always more important to them than individual buildings.
What is your favorite country you have traveled to and why?
Portugal was a recent favorite. I love places where the mountains hit the ocean.
What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The people!
What inspires you most?
Things I see when I am walking around.
What is the hardest part about your job?
Pleasing everyone in the office with a playlist.
What style of architecture most impresses you or is your favorite?
Nordic Classicism
What is your favorite book?
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
What is your favorite restaurant?
Pubbelly in Miami
What’s your favorite place in Charleston?
Colonial Lake
What is your favorite food?
Fish tacos
If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
The microscopic water bear because they are the only known creature that can survive in space.
Do you play any instruments?
Guitar
What song is at the top of your most played list?
Kurt Vile’s One Trick Pony. I relate.
Who is your favorite artist?
Edward Hopper & Giotto
Favorite television show?
Twin Peaks
Last book you read?
The Everglades: River of Grass by Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Last movie you watched?
Booksmart
Favorite movie or genre?
I like a good thriller.
Guilty pleasure?
I enjoy chips and salsa, but I don’t feel guilty.
What would the book or movie about your life be called?
A Series of Unfortunate Events. Sadly, it’s already taken.
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Danny DeVito, I would hope.
What’s your astrological sign?
Cancer
What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Taxes
What is your greatest fear?
Bad drivers
What does true leadership mean to you?
Hank Hill
What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
My 13 year old self wouldn’t take my advice. However, Tessenow had a great saying: “The simplest form is not always best, but the best is always simple.”
How do you define success?
A well-organized closet.
PUBLIC CHARETTE! Monday, July 22, 6:00 – 7:30pm, James Island Town Hall – 1122 Dills Buff Rd.
Come join the Town of James Island as we gather information and explore various possible uses for the current Camp Road Library building located at 1248 Camp Rd. Various Community groups and Organizations
will be on-hand to participate in the discussion, including theChildren's Museum of the Lowcountry, the James Island History Commission, the James Island Arts Committee, the Neighborhood Council, James Island Pride and the James Island Children’s Commission.
To submit suggestions online, email comments to info@jamesislandsc.us
Benjamin Ward, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP, of Grace Hebert Curtis Architects & Liollio’s Aaron Bowman, AIA, SEED, LEED AP, coauthored an article about Resilience and AIA South Carolina’s Disaster Assistance Program that was published in YAF Connection, the AIA Young Architect Forum’s bimonthly publication. READ ARTICLE HERE or by following the link above.
Coming up with an idea is easy. Coming up with the right one takes work. With design thinking, throwing out what you think you know and starting from scratch opens up all kinds of possibilities. Design thinking isn’t just for things. Design thinking can be applied to any problem that needs a creative solution.
MUSC Innovation Week took place April 29th – May 3rd. The week-long celebration of transformation and innovation had a little something for everyone. The theme on Wednesday, May 1st was Inspiring Today's Generation to Lead Tomorrow's. Liollio’s Aaron Bowman, AIA, LEED AP, joined a group of panelists at MUSC’s Bioengineering Building to discuss Solving Problems with Design Thinking . In addition to Aaron, panelists included: Lilyn Hester, Head of Southeast External Affairs and Government Relations, Google; Michael Madson, Ph.D., MUSC Center for Academic Excellence; Amy Pastre, Founder/Partner, Stich Design Company; Anita Ramsetty, M.D., MUSC Department of Family Medicine; and Tammy Thompson, AIA, EDAC, MUSC Strategic Design and Innovation.
To see of full list of Innovation Week events, visit https://research.musc.edu/innovation
Liollio Health & Wellness Champion, Michael Edwards, and Alison Dawson, AIA, presented Reframing Ageism: Design to Re-Vitalize Community & Empower Seniors at the 2019 Environments for Aging Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 7 – 10. Often overlooked or unknowingly referenced to older adults, ageism is a discriminatory stereotyping against people on the basis of their age and can often have harmful effects on the health of older adults. Michael and Alison shared Liollio’s community design process employed for the Louis Waring, Jr. Senior Center as case study. Through listening, discovery and translation, the team designed the new facility to reflect the wishes of the older adult community in hopes to defy the ageist stereotype of what a Senior Center is “expected” to be. The new Senior Center is a hub of community engagement empowering our older adults to make their voices heard. Just as the historical character of Charleston speaks to every visitor, the history, stories, and active voice of our aging population is vital.
With 1,000+ industry professionals at the Environments for Aging Expo & Conference, it's the ultimate networking, education, and product-sourcing event. See the newest products from 100+ exhibitors and learn about the latest research, trends, and strategies to meet the needs of our aging population. Leave with new connections, new ideas for current and future projects, as well as CEUs.
The Environments for Aging Conference offerers educational programs designed to provide attendees with breaking information, case studies and research findings on a myriad of topics. These sessions are either research-focused or offer other educational scenarios including case studies, design outcomes or processes and exploration of timely topics. Attendees enjoy information-rich presentations with opportunities for Q&A and many provide opportunities to earn CEUs.
Learn more by visiting https://www.environmentsforaging.com/
Liollio Architecture is honored to announce that the 2019 American Institute of Architects South Atlantic Region (AIA SAR) has recognized Liollio projects with three Regional Design Awards. Hampton Health Clinic in Varnville, SC received a New Construction/Substantial Renovation Honor Award. Brighton Park Swim Club in Summerville, SC and James Island Town Hall in James Island, SC both received New Construction/Substantial Renovation Merit Awards. Because these projects were the result of team work and collaboration with clients, Liollio would like to extend sincere gratitude to Hampton County, SC, WestRock and The Town of James Island, SC, along with their project team partners.
Jury Comments:
James Island Town Hall “This quotation of a simple regional form creates a warm community expression.”
Brighton Park Swim Club “This project was admirable for its modesty and directness.”
Hampton Health Clinic “This modest quiet clinic is designed with great sensitivity to patients and to creating a new warm and comfortable community asset.”
The AIA South Atlantic Region is comprised of three state chapters: GA, NC and SC and is home to more than 5,500 members. Events surrounding the 2019 AIA SAR Annual Design Conference, themed the ASPIRE Experience, took place in Asheville, NC over the course of three days, April 14 to April 16. A new type of collaborative conference, ASPIRE brought together the design and construction community to share stories and influence designers to create a better future. Breaking the mold of the traditional event and taking full advantage of the location, AIA SAR utilized the architecture, community and surroundings of Asheville to create this immersive environment of inspiration and design celebration.
We are proud of our 2019 42nd Annual Cooper River Bridge Run Liollio Team! Cheers to an awesome group! Congratulations to all who participated in this year's race! For a look at this year’s official winners, visit https://bridgerun.com/.
Liollio’s Jennifer Charzewski and Jane Thompson enjoyed attending the 2019 Annual Meeting for the Friends of South Carolina Libraries at the impressive Florence SC Main Library last week. Jennifer participated in a joint panel discussion with Tina Gills from Richland Library that highlighted the pre-planning and design approach to St. Andrews Library and Ballentine Library, as featured in the 2018 Library Design Showcase. The main theme of the panel discussion was how a collaborative team effort between library, community, and designers can result in creative solutions (large or small) that address the unique cultural aspects of each library and can help create destination features – rooted in the identity of each community.
Don't miss the Louis Waring, Jr. Senior Center Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on March 5. Mayor John J. Tecklenburg, City Council of Charleston and Roper St. Francis Healthcare invite you to attend the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Louis Waring, Jr. Senior Center on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 12:30 p.m. at 2001 Henry Tecklenburg Drive, Charleston SC. Tours of the facility and open house activities will follow the ribbon cutting. For more info visit here.
The ASPIRE EXPERIENCE is a new type of collaborative conference, bringing together the design and construction community to share stories and influence designers to create the future. We’re breaking the mold of the traditional event, and will take full advantage of the location, using the architecture, community, and surroundings of Asheville to create this immersive environment in three days of inspiration and design celebration. REGISTER NOW for ASPIRE Experience in Asheville NC, April 14-16 2019! Visit: https://aspirexperience.com/.
With world-class golf, tennis, boating and accommodation facilities, beaches, creeks and marshes, excellent dining and nightlife, arts and cultural centers, and environmental and historical educational sites and programs, the Hilton Head region offers the ideal learning laboratory for hospitality studies and for enjoying your time at the University. Graduates of the Hospitality Management Program will be prepared to build successful careers in the booming tourism industry.
The 40,000 SF campus on the south end of the island is equipped with a production kitchen, beverage lab, tiered classroom design and high-tech offices. The campus will provide education and hands-on experience to students, allowing them to join the workforce while they study, and then stay for a career.
"Hilton Head is a superior environment for hospitality education," said USCB's Hospitality Management Dean Charles Calvert. "So for students to be able to come to our school, to study but also apply that theory to practice in the work environment is transformative for their educational careers."
Liollio Architecture is honored to have been part of this important and amazing project in association with our friends at Bialosky Cleveland and Fraser Construction. We would like to thank all on the team who made this possible. Browse images of the new University of South Carolina-Beaufort Hilton Head Hospitality Management Campus above - Photography by Richard Leo Johnson of Atlantic Archives.
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center’s fully renovated and expanded Emergency Department will be open to Veterans next week. This project more than tripled the square footage in their Emergency Department, adding nine new bays, an additional nurses station, a workroom for staff and privacy for our Veterans. Liollio is proud to have been part of the team on this important , helping the VA to expand access to care for Veterans in their new space.
By Rob Way | November 30, 2018 at 7:06 AM EST - Updated November 30 at 7:24 AM
BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - For the first time, Roper St. Francis is expanding its medical reach to Berkeley County.
On Friday, the healthcare provider is opening its new medical office building in Summerville. Until now, they only had an urgent care center in the area.
The grand opening event is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday. The offices are at 300 Callen Boulevard in Summerville behind all the major construction right near where 176 meets 17-A. Those who stop by can tour the building, grab some free food, and even pop in to a free health fair.
This state-of-the-art, three-story building will house a variety of specialists, including breast surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and OB/GYN physicians. Medical services here will range from dermatology to cardiology.
Jennifer Crawford will be the Chief Nursing Officer at the future Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital. She says this new medical office building was designed with the patients in mind.
"We've looked at all the attributes down to the color scheme matching the natural environment, because there’s proof that’s therapeutic in the healing process,” Crawford said. “We’ve added three elevators. One at every proximity to the building, so there's no long walking distances."
The medical offices are set to start seeing patients on Monday, Dec. 10. The healthcare provider is also building a hospital next door which is set to open in October 2019.
Copyright 2018 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Browse selected images from Liollio's portfolio of library and educational learning environments. A very special thank you to Richland Library in Richland County SC. Featured projects include Richland Library Ballentine, St. Andrews and Blythewood, College of Charleston Science Building, Charleston Progressive Academy and Hip Hop Architecture Camp®️. Select images courtesy of Richland Library.
“As an architect, I try to be guided not by habit but by a conscious sense of the past-by precedent, thoughtfully considered.”
World Architecture Day, celebrated on the first Monday of every October, was set up by the Union International des Architects (UIA) in 2005 to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. As architects and community leaders, we have the responsibility to enrich our environment through the power of design. At Liollio, we strive to elevate the design dialogue within our community through design rooted in context, culture and collaboration. This World Architecture Day, we recognize the recent passing of Robert Venturi and his lifelong dedication to the profession.
James Island Town Hall Officials made the new location at 1122 Dills Bluff Road their home on July 30th. One month later, on Thursday, August 30th, they invited the public to join them in celebrating their new space with an Open House. Music, food and refreshments were provided free of charge to all guests. Smoky Oak, Dave ‘N’ Dubs Hot Dogs and Pelican’s SnoBalls were a few of the vendors who contributed to making the evening such a special event. View the gallery of images above to see the amazing turnout and the fun had by all. A special thank you to Diana Deaver for her eye in capturing the event on film, and to the Town of James Island Officials for hosting such a wonderful event!
