Garvin Design Group’s City Market wins 2018 AIA Columbia Merit Award
November 7, 2018
Garvin Design Group proudly accepted the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Columbia’s 2018 Merit Award for Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse/Renovation for its City Market project at this year’s Design Awards dinner and ceremony on Thursday, November 1. Garvin Design Group and Hood Construction began the City Market rehabilitation project in 2014.
Located in the heart of the Vista, City Market consists of three of the oldest surviving buildings in Columbia (705, 707, and 711 Gervais Street), ranging in original construction date from the 1860s to the early 1900s. The complex of buildings was formerly known as City Market Antiques Mall. The primary goal of the adaptive reuse project was to return the existing buildings to their original industrial form while capitalizing on opportunities for mixed use development. Reopening the infilled railroad track between 707 and 711 Gervais created a public alley that provide access and daylight to both buildings. Each of the three buildings’ façades was reconstructed using existing brick and returned to its original form based on historic photographs. The complex is now home to two apartments, restaurants Grill Marks, Newk’s, Twisted Spur Brewing, and smallSUGAR, and a venue space known as City Market Place.
AIA Columbia’s 2018 awards jury provided the following comments on the City Market project: “This is a serious example of a major design transformation informed by historic research. The jury felt these smart, large moves were fantastic and formed a very successful urban improvement appropriately based on the past histories of the site. The project demonstrates a good urban sense of scale and the newly formed alley is a memorable space – most likely a shady breezeway during warm summer days. This ‘big-thinking’ is amazingly transformative for the energy level of the city[.]”
About Garvin Design Group
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Garvin Design Group offers comprehensive planning and design services for a variety of project types and sizes. From master planning and programming to interior up-fits and new construction, Garvin Design Group strives to provide client-driven design solutions throughout South Carolina. The firm of 18 people has completed over $900,000,000 worth of projects since its founding in 2003. For additional information, please visit www.garvindesigngroup.com or find us on social media.
