College of Charleston Arts Building Set for Multimillion-Dollar Overhaul

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

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.

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Liollio Architecture Elevates 3 Team Members to Associate

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.

National Library Week 2021: Welcome to Your Library

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Happy National Library Week 2021! Typically the second week of April (April 4 - 10, 2021) is a time to celebrate our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions and promote library use and support.  The theme for National Library Week 2021 is "Welcome to Your Library." 

During the pandemic, library workers continue to exceed their communities' demands and adapt resources and services to meet their users' needs during these challenging times. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer endless opportunities to transform lives through education and lifelong learning.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and observed in libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate.

View. Liollio’s recent Library work here.
Learn more about National Library Week and the American Library Association here.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE TEAM? WE ARE HIRING!

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’s Lance Eubanks Achieves Architectural Licensure

Lance Eubanks, AIA, LEED AP, Project Architect

Liollio Architecture is pleased to congratulate Lance Eubanks, AIA, for earning his 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 Lance and his achievement.

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 Designer with ZGF Architects LLP in Washington DC, Sorg Architects in Washington DC, and as an Architectural Intern at Foil Wyatt Architects and Planners in Jackson, Mississippi. Lance has been a LEED Accredited Professional for more than 10 years, and his portfolio consists of Healthcare, Federal, Higher Education, Commercial, and Community projects. 

Liollio Architecture Awarded Two 2020 AIA South Carolina Design Awards

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!

Business School Takes Citadel to ‘Next Level’

Dr. Russell Sobel, professor of economics and entrepreneurship, uses his microphone to help teach cadets on a Zoom call during class at The Citadel’s new Baker School of Business in Bastin Hall on Tuesday in Charleston.

New Bastin Hall ‘to be transformative for the educational experience’

BY JENNA SCHIFERL
jschiferl@postandcourier.com

After more than two years of construction, a new home for The Citadel’s business school is ready to welcome students and professors. Bastin Hall, which houses the Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business, is the first new academic building constructed on the public military school’s campus in 30 years.

The 44,000-square-foot building was built with students in mind, said Michael Weeks, dean of the business school. Everything from the fluid architectural design to the type of furniture used in classrooms was specially designed to build creative and collaborative spaces for students to work and study. “It’s really, we think, going to be transformative for the educational experience for the students,” Weeks said.

Bastin Hall now hosts some of the college’s most popular degree programs. Of the 2,400 members in the Corps of Cadets, close to 600 are majoring in business. Another 375 Citadel students are pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree or are enrolled in a business administration degree completion program within the school.

While the finishing touches are still being put in place, the first round of classes was held inside the building Monday. It is expected to be completed in two weeks, with an opening ceremony to come in April. The $25 million building sits near the intersection of Hagood Avenue and Congress Street, across the road from the school’s football stadium and alumni center. It stands as one of the college’s most welcoming features on campus.

Once inside the main entrance, visitors are greeted with a large common area/collaborative workspace, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light. A circular stock ticker hangs from the tall ceiling, a colorful array of numbers flashing across its surface. 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,” Weeks said.

21st-century classrooms

The new Bastin Hall provides a glimpse into what a contemporary, 21st-century learning environment can look like. Most of the new classrooms are equipped with dual laser projectors which have a much faster startup/shutoff time than their traditional counterparts, said Conyers Bull, the school’s multimedia services manager. The rooms also include dual touch-screen computer monitors, Bull said, meaning that faculty don’t have to turn their back on students while teaching. If they want to write something on the board, they can use a stylus to write on the touch screen. But one of the most highly anticipated pieces of technology is the building’s professional selling lab.

At first glance, this space might look like a traditional Bastin Hall classroom, with dozens of desks and corresponding portable whiteboards. Before the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic, these whiteboards would be stored beside students’ chairs but have since been converted into makeshift virus-blocking partitions.

Inside the sales lab, there are several cameras mounted from the ceiling. Professors can use special software to connect to cameras and microphones in nearby breakout rooms, where they can observe in real-time mock sales pitches and roleplaying exercises. They can even provide feedback or advice over the speakers remotely from their position in the main lab. This type of technology is a game-changer in more ways than one, said Bob Riggle, who heads the marketing, supply chain management, and economics department.

In addition to sales training, the lab can be used to teach interview skills or conflict-resolution training. “It’s really state of the art,” Riggle said. “This is the best that you can get that’s on the market right now.” Riggle taught his first course inside the new building on Monday. “The feedback from the students was phenomenal. They were really excited,” he said. “This is the kind of thing that they need to kind of breakthrough to the next level.”

A lasting legacy

Rick Bastin, a 1965 graduate of The Citadel, remembers what his business classes were like in Bond Hall. “While I was there, we didn’t have air conditioning I don’t think. We had open windows,” he said.

While he reflects on his time there and his professors fondly, Bastin has been impressed to see how much the college has transformed in the time since he was on campus. When he was a cadet, calculators were just in their infancy. “We used to have to go to tables and books and figure all those things out and now it’s all at your fingertips,” he said.

Today, more than 50 years after Bastin was a student himself, the Florida resident is looking forward to eventually seeing the new business school building named in his honor. The state-of-the-art facility was made possible because of a more than $6 million gift provided by Bastin and his wife, Mary Lee, through The Citadel Foundation.

Their family has supported the college for years, previously supplying funds to create the Bastin Financial Lab. The space has since been renamed the Mary Lee and Rick Bastin, ’65, Financial Trading Lab, and serves as one of the main focal points of the new business school building. In addition to the Bastins, more than 50 other individuals, families, businesses, and Citadel classes provided donations to help fund the new business school building.

Bastin said he hopes the creation of a new building will help The Citadel attract highly skilled professors who might not have otherwise joined the faculty. “I want to see them stay on the cutting edge of technology and bring in faculty that’s very attuned to that,” he said.

In addition to the sales and finance labs, the new building features an advising center and an entrepreneurship-innovation lab. The new building also includes a rooftop balcony that can be used for large gatherings and events.

“All of these labs and all of this technology ties together, and so they can take their ideas and put them into practice,” Weeks said. Cadet Taurus Brown, who attends The Citadel on an Air Force contract and is the head drillmaster for the Corps, said he’s been blown away not just by the new building but how far the business school has come since he first enrolled as a freshman. “I just think it’s going to be a great place to be in the next couple of years,” Brown said. “I’m glad to see the building up, and I will be so happy to come back and really see how much it’s changed.” Bastin Hall’s design and construction were overseen by Liollio Architecture. THS Constructors served as the general contractor for the project.

A stock market ticker is seen in the main lobby area at The Citadel’s new Baker School of Business in Bastin Hall on Tuesday in Charleston.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Liollio!

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Spotlight On: Jane Thompson

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A native of Georgia, Jane Thompson, Liollio Associate Principal, moved to South Carolina in 1986. For the past 20 years, Jane has worn many hats at Liollio - many of them resting on that wild, wonderful, and untamed mane of hers. She began her tenure at the firm as Administrative Assistant and gradually took on more responsibilities over the years like spec writing and event planning. She transitioned from Administrative Assistant to Office Manager to Human Resources to Business Development Manager and Associate Principal. Her most important role, however, has been that of a friend. Though we knew the day would come all too soon, it is bittersweet to celebrate Jane’s retirement from the firm this month. I think I speak for the entire Liollio team when I say that no one can replace Jane and we will truly miss her - her compassion, her work ethic, her laughter and humor, her guidance - her presence. Before she embarks on new adventures, we wanted to sit down for a little Q&A with our long-overdue Spotlight On feature. Happy reading, sports fans…

How long have you lived in Charleston?
20 years

Where did you grow up?
All around Georgia - I was born in Blue Ridge GA.

Are you married?
Yes

Children?
Yes - 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, 3 granddaughters, and 1 grandson.

What is your favorite non-living thing in your home?
Operable windows

What do you like to do when you have free time?
Take a bike ride if it's pretty outside - play Candy Crush if it's not.

Do you have any pets?
Not anymore - I live in a 3rd floor walk up and am too lazy to take care of pets right now. If so, tell us a bit about them. In my lifetime, I've had 5 dogs, 7 cats, numerous white mice and guinea pigs, a parakeet, more rabbits than I can count, a couple of chickens, and 3 horses. (this doesn't count the 7 black puppies I found in a graveyard in Georgia that I brought back home with me to SC and then found them new parents.)

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
My family - I think I had a little to do with how much fun we have together.

What building have you visited that most impressed you?
Doge's Palace in Venice Italy

What architect or architecture firm most influenced you as a student?
I have been a student in awe of the practice of architecture from the first day I started at Liollio - never went to school for that though.

What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Tuscany - they have really good wine there and lots of time to enjoy it!

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
Hands down - the people I work with.

What inspires you most?
Laughter

What style of architecture most impresses you or is your favorite?
I don't have a favorite style - but I know what I like when I see it.

What is your favorite book?
Always was and always will be The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien

What is your favorite restaurant?
Vespa on Daniel Island

What’s your favorite place(s) in Charleston?
Home, my children's homes, the office, the bridges, the waterfronts, the beach, rooftop bars, narrow streets, wide streets, the parks... Oh, did you want just one place? Sorry, can't narrow it down!

What is your favorite food?
Wine - that's a fruit right?

What is your least favorite food?
Seafood - yep, that's what I said.

If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
A jaguar - they are beautiful, fast, powerful, and strong.

Do you play any instruments?
I used to play the harmonica pretty good. My mama taught me.

What song is at the top of your most played list?
Anything by Motown - My Girl by The Temptations is the first to come to mind. Makes me want to dance.

Who is your favorite musical artist or genre?
That's hard to narrow down too. First to come to mind is Otis Redding, but James Taylor runs a very close second.

Who is your favorite artist?
My grandchildren

Favorite television show?
Ally McBeal

Last book you read?
An as-yet untitled book that my nephew wrote and I edited.

Last movie you watched?
I Am Woman - story of Helen Reddy's life on Netflix

Favorite movie or genre?
It's embarrassing to admit - always was and always will be Dirty Dancing, but Shawshank Redemption is aa close second.

Any random fact you could share with us?
I rode in an elevator with Telly Savalas once in Las Vegas, and he winked at me.

Messy or organized?
Organized for sure.

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog or website?
I'm an NPR addict.

Favorite quote?
"Don't give up, no murmur or utter. One more kick may bring the butter." Long story, and as far as I know, the author is unknown. There's more to it. 'll explain it to you sometime…

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
My Granny Dorsey

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
I would like to have been there when the Great Pyramid of Giza was built - then I'd see for myself how it was done.

If your house was burning down, What is the one nonliving thing you would save?
My red treasure box - it's got things in there that can't be replaced.

Guilty pleasure?
Eating Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk with a spoon straight from the can.

What would the book or movie about your life be called?
She Thought She Knew It All But Really Didn't

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Melissa McCarthy - she laughs a lot.

What’s your astrological sign?
Cancer

What three traits define you?
Unconditional love, my spirituality, sense of humor.

What is your personal philosophy?
Work hard, play hard and rest well.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Vicks Vapor Rub

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far? 
Burying my parents

What is your greatest fear?
I don’t know – I’ll have to think about that.

What does true leadership mean to you? 
The ability to listen before being heard.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A jockey in the Kentucky Derby – I’d like to be on the winning horse.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Listen to your Daddy – it’s all going to be good.

How do you define success?
My family enjoying my company.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I love rap music and listen to it when I get angry mostly - I have a quick temper.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t give someone else an opportunity to change your voice.

Liollio Architecture Awarded 2020 AIA South Atlantic Region ASPIRE Design Award

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“Richland Library Ballentine is a well-conceived building with a strong sense of materiality. The Jury really liked the controlled carving of the form and strong, detailed transitions. This is a great example of well-used public funds.”

— Jury Comment

 Liollio Architecture is honored to announce that the American Institute of Architects South Atlantic Region has recognized Liollio’s design of Richland Library Ballentine in Irmo, SC with a 2020 AIA SAR Design Award.

Exploring the concept of Library as Studio with Richland Library, the Ballentine branch implemented innovative programming concepts. Community meetings and focus groups revealed a strong identity of art, craft, and connection to nature. An outdoor deck, reading great room, community living room, puppet theatre, built-in activity wall with reading nooks, small and medium gathering spaces, a maker space, and an art studio are key features. A completely flexible approach to defining space with furnishings makes the library eminently adaptable throughout the day.

The AIA SAR has a long-standing tradition of recognizing a broad range of architecture activity that exemplifies the values of the South Atlantic Region and improves the quality of the built environment.The SAR Design Awards program seeks to highlight the diverse range of project types that exist within the region. The 2020 Aspire Design Awards were presented digitally during this year’s online conference. Over 350 projects were submitted to the program and 29 were awarded.

Liollio Architecture Awarded 2020 AIA National Healthcare Design Award

Visit the AIA National Website: 2020 Healthcare Design Awards - Click Here.

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Liollio Architecture is honored to announce that the American Institute of Architects has recognized Liollio’s design of the Hampton County Health Clinic in Varnville, SC with a 2020 AIA National Healthcare Design Award.

““This project brings dignity, hope, and joy to the community it supports.””

— Jury comment

This facility serving two rural South Carolina communities reflects the region’s faith in its future. The new facility, a joint venture between county and state agencies, replaced an outdated, 50-year-old structure. Given the site’s location in a former railroad town, simple materials and massing were employed to evoke the boxcars that used to roll through. Inside, patient care areas are divided between clinical care and care for women, infants, and children. Each features its own service corridor and waiting areas, all with ample natural light that enhances the environment for patients facing potentially difficult diagnoses. Privacy was a key factor in determining the program and organization of the clinic’s spaces. At the new facility’s ribbon cutting ceremony, the team noted a shift in perception and mood, confirming it had delivered a modest but noble clinic reflective of the community’s emboldened spirit.

““Functional and understated, it is a fantastic little jewel box made of simple forms and modest materials...It is wonderful to see such thoughtful care and attention given to a rural community health facility. It is a building they can take pride in.””

— Jury comment

Spotlight On: Cameron Foster

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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

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.

Albert Simons Center for the Arts Getting A New Look: Live 5 News

By Summer Huechtker | July 22, 2020

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The College of Charleston has been working on plans to improve the Albert Simons Center for the Arts for at least four years now.

On Wednesday, the plans will be seeking preliminary approval from the City of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review.

The City of Charleston Planning Director Jacob Lindsey says portions of the building will be demolished and replaced, including a newly designed structure that will house the theater in the Simons Center. Additionally, Lindsay says the interior of the theater will be re-designed and expanded.

The existing courtyard will be updated and Lindsay says the new parts of the building will frame this newly designed space so the Green Way Street entrance will look completely different at the front.

Lindsey says the changes will give the Simons Center a new, modern face. He adds that the city encourages high style for civic buildings like theaters.

It's important for the city to play a role in this design process because the building is on a public street, along Philip Street, Lindsay says.

Although the Simons Center is a College of Charleston building, many of its art openings and performances are open to the public and it is also used for the Spoleto Festival.

The college says they have been in the planning phases of this re-design with Liollio architects for a number of years, so they hope to get through the approval process as soon as possible.

Though the city’s board of architectural review will be reviewing the designs for the first time Wednesday, Lindsey says they are still months away from the start of construction.

Copyright 2020 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Children’s Museum Expanding with Outdoor Space: Live 5 News

By Summer Huechtker | July 22, 2020

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry is planning an expansion of an outdoor area and improvements to its current historic building.

The city's Planning Director, Jacob Lindsey, says he's excited about this expansion that plans to gives the city's only children's museum more space outdoors. He says the previous outdoor space around the building was not very big and not well used.

The museum says they are planning to add a creative canopy that resembles the children's game of "pick up sticks."

"The design is really a playful one and is colorful and different from anything else that you'll find in the city," Lindsey said.

He added that there will be a new, permanent roof over the outdoor area as well as a fence that surrounds this area in order to keep it more private and safe.

Lindsay says the outdoor space is going to be next to the museum on Ann Street, and will run the whole length of the block between King Street and Meeting Street.

The Children’s Museum’s historic building has never gone through rehabilitation, but organizers say they are excited to finally get this underway after about two years of planning.

The city says they are also planning for an interior re-work of the facilities and programs indoors.

These additions are up for preliminary approval at the Board of Architectural Review Wednesday. Once it gets full approval for the outdoor shade and interior renovation, it could start construction.

Copyright 2020 WCSC. All rights reserved.

A More Resilient Charleston: Charleston City Paper Features Aaron Bowman​ Article

ONE Architecture + Urbanism, from Imaginethewall.org

Bowman: Sea level rise proposals deserve wider cultural input: A More Resilient Charleston
By Aaron Bowman

Like many coastal areas across the country, the city of Charleston continues to bear the brunt of an increasingly volatile and changing climate. Last year saw a record number of "sunny day" floods and this year marks the sixth consecutive year where tropical storms have formed before hurricane season has officially started. The City of Charleston is to be commended for its continued commitment to studying the effects of climate change and implementing projects to not only address current problems but also mitigate future impacts.

The Charleston Peninsula Study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers represents the latest in a series of studies and offers a thorough analysis of a single issue that threatens the peninsula of Charleston: storm surge. The potential economic and cultural impact of a severe hazard event are well presented and the concept of a barrier to address this issue has been discussed previously.

However, the Peninsula Study's limitation to this one topic ignores the reality of additional documented hazards that represent a growing economic and environmental threat to our community. As noted in the report materials online, this proposal needs to be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to address flooding, sea level rise and the impacts of storm events. However, this analysis does not address these other hazards or offer analysis of how this plan could support existing infrastructure projects and planning proposals.

The study's current focus offers two structural options for a barrier wall, both of which neglect the rich history of Charleston's relationship with water. While these responses offer an engineered response to the question of storm surge, this problem requires a more integrated design solution that addresses the specific context in which it is located. A combination of "rigid" infrastructure and "soft" landscape solutions could mitigate the impact to cultural and natural resources and offer amenities for residents.

Complex problems like climate change and the design of resilient cities are not linear in nature and cannot be treated as an equation to solve. These wicked problems involve multivariable, interconnected systems that include not only environmental and economic issues, but social impacts as well. Charleston's rich history of preservation may be best known for its emphasis on the protection of the built environment, but it is the people who live and work in those buildings that define our community. It is the people of our community who actively (and vocally) participate in a robust public discourse that informs stakeholders and civic leaders and collectively shapes the future of our city.

Projects such as The BIG U, a post-Hurricane Sandy project to create a storm surge barrier along a continuous 10-mile stretch of Lower Manhattan, offer a model for civic engagement and public participation. The design and development team met with neighborhoods throughout the study area to understand their concerns and then developed contextually appropriate design strategies to address those concerns and maintain or improve their relationship to the water.

The Charleston Peninsula Study represents an important step forward in the City of Charleston's efforts to address the climate hazards that are facing our community. As the study continues to develop, a comprehensive public engagement strategy and a broader understanding of economic, environmental and social impacts of this proposal will be necessary to truly judge its success. The architects of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Charleston and the AIA South Carolina Resilience Committee look forward to continuing the conversation and working collaboratively to design a more resilient Charleston.

Aaron Bowman is an architect at Liollio Architecture and the founding chair of AIA South Carolina's Resilience Committee.

West Ashley Site Plans Offer Sense of ‘Place Making’

PROVIDED/CITY OF CHARLESTON

A design rendering by Liollio Architecture of a proposed plan for the former Piggly Wiggly site at the intersection of Sumar Street, Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road in West Ashley. This rendering has buildings facing Sam Rittenberg.

BY MIKAELA PORTER
mporter@postandcourier.com

One of West Ashley’s corridors could see some new retail, restaurant and civic space. On Wednesday night, plans were presented for the old Piggly Wiggly triangle-shaped parcel formed by Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Old Towne Road and Sumar Street.

The city owns the old grocery store’s property — now a 2.2-acre slab of pavement. The city purchased the site for $3 million in 2017 and demolished the store in 2018. Piggly Wiggly had been closed for nearly five years before the building was torn down.

Three designs were presented Wednesday night. All included plans for up to six buildings on the site, but the placements differed. Buildings either fronted Sumar Street, Old Towne Road or Sam Rittenberg Boulevard. All include parking and a public access tower for visitors to view the Ashley River.

In total, the buildings would account for between 50,000 and 60,000 square feet. One third would be for municipal use with an assembly area. Half of the site would be office space and another 10,000-square feet would be for retail and restaurants.

Mayor John Tecklenburg described the designs as ones that would create a sense of “place making” for West Ashley.

“This is going to create a space that will draw people in and will also serve as a real gateway, kind of an entrance to West Ashley that will be deserving of the site and deserving of West Ashley,” Tecklenburg said.

As for the publicly-owned building, Tecklenburg said he’s working with different partners to share space with the city.

Councilman Peter Shahid, who chairs the commission group tasked with West Ashley’s revitalization, favored the plans for buildings fronting Sam Rittenberg Boulevard because he feels it would be consistent with the height and density already along that corridor.

He’d like some of the municipal space used for city staff like the West Ashley manager, a police substation as well as an area for City Council to meet occasionally. Additionally, as the coronavirus pandemic has ushered in a different way to meet virtually, Shahid said the gathering space would be useful for West Ashley residents to meet and provide comment while Council meets downtown.

The plan with buildings fronting Sam Rittenberg Boulevard were favored Wednesday night. The tower and a water feature were noted as important design elements for members Charlie Smith and Kenneth Marolda, too.

City Planner Jacob Lindsey said Wednesday the plans align with the concerns residents shared at a widely attended meeting in 2018.

In October, the city sought proposals from design firms before selecting Liollio Architecture and Mount Pleasantbased Landmark Enterprises.

Liollio Architecture, based on James Island, also designed the new fire station on Savannah Highway, next to the memorial for the firefighters who died during the Sofa Super Store fire. Liollio is known for its history of civic architecture in West Ashley, Lindsey said. Landmark Enterprises purchased the Old City Jail from the city in the last six years and have a number of properties in the city and region.

“This will transform the Sam Rittenberg side of the site as well as the main entryway of West Ashley if it is built according to this plan,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey said it isn’t clear how the commercial spaces will be sold or leased. City Council will review and approve the plans before construction begins.

Warren Wise contributed to this report.

STUDIOLLIO

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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.

Liollio Team Members Respond to MUSC's Call for 3D Printed Masks

In a time when we are all looking for ways to support our community, Liollio is responding to a call for volunteers from AIA Charleston to provide 3-D printed masks designed by the Medical University of South Carolina.  Liollio’s David Herrero, Associate AIA, and Mary Tran, Associate AIA, have relocated our 3D printer to their home office and have been printing the masks for delivery to MUSC to support the cause. The effort is being coordinated by Grant Gilmore, Director of the Master of Arts in Community Planning, Policy, and Design program at the College of Charleston. 

With the threat of a shortage of protective masks looming as the novel coronavirus pandemic grows, Medical University of South Carolina biomedical engineers and tinkerers had an inspired idea: unleash an army of makers from across the U.S. who could make such masks from 3D printers. 

In a matter of days, a team came together and developed the Self-Assembly Filtration for Emergencies, or SAFE, Cartridge System. The system could be used by medical professionals or by people who just need to go to the grocery store. The MUSC team has been in contact with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to obtain emergency approval of the device.

Our goal is to produce and deliver 10 SAFE masks this week, which take about 13 hours each to print. The SAFE system is printed on a 3D printer out of PLA plastic and has a reusable mask piece that comes in three different sizes: S,M, & L. The second piece is a disposable HEPA filter cartridge that works with all three mask sizes. The HEPA cartridge and masks can be printed and assembled with commonly used items that can be bought at local hardware stores in cases of emergencies.

If you have a 3D printer and are interested in assisting with printing, please respond to ashley@ajarch.net.

To learn more about MUSC’s team and their plans for 3D printed masks visit: https://web.musc.edu/about/news-center/2020/03/26/3d-printed-masks-developed-at-medical-university-of-south-carolina

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