Columbia College celebrates grand opening of College Place
April 16, 2025
On Friday, March 21, Columbia College celebrated the grand opening of College Place. The newly renovated historic church will now serve as the new home for the college’s Division of Education and as a gathering hub for students, faculty, and local residents.
For more than a century, College Place United Methodist Church has been a staple of Columbia’s history. Now under the ownership of Columbia College, the church’s rich legacy has been preserved while being repurposed to support the college’s mission of fostering education and community engagement.
The extensive renovations were carried out by project teams: Hood Construction, LCK, and Garvin Design Group. The space now hosts new gathering areas, state-of-the-art classrooms, faculty offices, and collaborative spaces designed to enhance the learning experience for students pursuing careers in education, teaching, and leadership.
“It was an honor to be a part of the College Place United Methodist Church project, in taking a historic piece of Columbia College’s past and rejuvenating the building for their bright future ahead,” said Brandon Hein, Hood Construction Project Manager. “We look forward to seeing Columbia College use College Place as a stepping stone for their growth.”
The renovations focused on preserving the architectural beauty and historical integrity of the church while modernizing the facility to meet the needs of today’s students.
“It was crucial that the new facility reflect the rich 171-year history of the College while also promoting the innovative commitment to the future of its students and faculty,” said Mark Timbes, Garvin Design Group Principal and the project’s lead designer. “More than pedagogy, the new spaces seek to incubate an environment of collaboration, leadership, and social justice.”
“LCK was privileged to be part of this historic renovation project for the College,” said Mickey Layden, LCK CEO. “From the early stages of understanding the feasibility of purchasing the facility to witnessing its transformation into a vibrant environment for students and faculty, it has been a tremendously rewarding project. We applaud the great vision of the leadership of Columbia College as this project serves as a benchmark for even greater things to come.”
Following the ribbon-cutting, guests gathered inside the chapel for a brief program featuring remarks from Columbia College President Dr. John Dozier, City Councilwoman Tina Herbert, and Columbia College Board of Trustees Chair Ben Rex.
At the program, President, Dr. John Dozier stated: “The true measure of any place is not found in its walls alone, but it’s how the space is used to inspire people to come together, do good work, and build a stronger community.”
College Place is now open and ready to welcome students and community members.
About Hood Construction
Hood Construction Company was founded in 1986 as a full-service Construction Management firm, currently licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Now in its 39th year, Hood specializes in CM-R and Design-Assist Delivery, Pre-construction Consulting, Site Analysis, Project Management and General Contracting for a broad spectrum of commercial and industrial clients. For more information, please visit us online at www.hoodconstruction.com
About Columbia College
Founded in 1854, Columbia College educates women and men to build successful careers and live lives of impact. The College’s liberal arts foundation ensures that students learn to think critically, develop their curiosity, and nurture a love for learning. With a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Columbia College students benefit from individualized support, engaged instruction, and personal mentorship. With more than 30 undergraduate programs and eight graduate programs, students can discover and pursue their passion and purpose. For more information, visit https://www.columbiasc.edu/.
About LCK
LCK is a privately held woman-owned business (WOB) jointly owned by majority partner, Mickey Layden, and Colliers | South Carolina. Since 1995, LCK has delivered a project management alternative for development of new facilities and for renovations. LCK’s experience in office, retail, industrial, government, nonprofit, healthcare, educational and religious projects has proven to be a preferred solution for many owners. Project planning, cost control, schedule compliance and quality management routinely generate cost savings for each of LCK’s clients. For more information, visit https://www.lckcs.com.
About Garvin Design Group
Garvin Design Group offers comprehensive planning and design services for various 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 24 people has completed more than $1 billion worth of projects since its founding in 2003. GDG’s contributions to the community and the profession earned it the American Institute of Architects – South Carolina’s (AIA SC) 2019 Firm Award, the Columbia Chamber’s 2020 Small Business of the Year Award, and recognition as a 2021 and 2022 Top 3 Best in Business Award from SC Business Monthly. For more information, visit www.garvindesigngroup.com.
