Quackenbush Architects + Planners receives AIA Columbia Citation Award

Quackenbush Architects + Planners has received a third award for their design work on the addition to Carver Lyon Elementary School for Richland School District One, this time from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Columbia chapter. Prior awards for this project include a Citation Award from AIA South Carolina and an Honor Award from the South Carolina chapter of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). Q+ accepted the award at the annual AIA Columbia Design Awards ceremony on December 5th at the Center for Architecture in Columbia, SC.

The judges praised the project for its “clear parti and spine,” highlighting these aspects as sound design decisions that allow for future growth. They also appreciated the effective relationships between classrooms, circulation, and outdoor spaces. Design awards jury chair Chris Davis, AIA, said the project “successfully conveys a contemporary design aesthetic” while still responding to the material palette of the existing campus.

The new 21,000-square-foot classroom addition, which opened in January 2023, increases the school’s capacity to support a district-wide language immersion magnet program. The design specifically enhances the school’s commitment to collaborative pedagogy and flexible learning environments.

About Quackenbush Architects + Planners

Quackenbush Architects + Planners is a full-service architecture and planning firm located in Columbia, SC. The firm specializes in institutional, civic, educational, and commercial projects. Its services span from building design to land planning to interior design. The firm’s portfolio includes projects for universities, cities, colleges, government agencies, school districts, and private clients. The team’s work reflects commitment to innovation, sensitivity to our regional context, and the richness that comes from collaboration with our clients and the community.