BUIST ACADEMY

Charleston County School District
Charleston, SC

Historic Buist Academy has been part of the fabric of downtown Charleston, SC since its humble beginning in the 1920s. The school’s design required a complex phasing plan: Demolishing part of the former Buist Academy while preserving the historic 1920s portion and completing a major 64,000-square-foot addition on the small site. The three-story addition, containing the gymnasium and media center, anchors the corner of this small urban site while being sensitive to the original historic building, giving it as much breathing room as possible.

Completed in 2013 in coordination with Craig Gaulden Davis Architects, the 20,000-square-foot renovation to the 1920s structure included fully replacing all interior finishes, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and seismically improving the historic structure. New micropiles were installed to strengthen the foundations, and the walls, floors, and roofs received additional framing, decking, and anchors. New windows were installed, replacing 1970s aluminum storefront windows with insulated, impact-resistant windows that have a historic muntin profile, to reflect the appearance of the original windows.

Historic Charleston Foundation

Founders Award, 2014

The Brick Industry Association

Brick in Architecture National Bronze Award,

Renovation/Restoration, 2014

Council of Education Facility Planners International

South Carolina Honor Award, 2015

Southeast Region Best Design Award, 2015

City of Charleston

Award for Design Excellence, 2015