2026 Preservation Awards | Olympia Armory
Thursday, May 14th 2026
WINNER | Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (commercial, institutional, rental, or municipal)
Olympia Armory | 551 Granby Street
South Carolina Military Department — Property Owner
Garvin Design Group — Architect
Solid Structures — Contractor
Garvin Design Group – Preservation Consultant
Constructed in 1937 with funding from the Works Progress Administration, the Olympia Armory stands as an important example of New Deal–era civic architecture and a long-standing community landmark in Columbia’s historic Olympia-Pacific Mills village. Individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the building reflects both the architectural character and social history of South Carolina’s state armory system. For more than eighty years, the facility has supported military readiness while also serving as a gathering space for community events and public activities.
The recent rehabilitation of the Olympia Armory ensures that the building will continue to serve the South Carolina Military Department while preserving its historic character. The project followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, emphasizing the retention and repair of historic materials, restoration of character-defining spaces, and thoughtful integration of modern systems needed for safety, accessibility, and long-term use.
Exterior work focused on stabilizing and preserving the historic masonry and roof while restoring the building’s original appearance. Brick masonry was carefully cleaned and selectively repointed with mortar compatible with the historic material. The terra cotta camelback coping was retained, and roofing improvements were completed with minimal impact on the historic parapets and chimneys. The armory’s tall, multi-pane steel windows—key architectural features—were fully restored, allowing natural light to once again fill the interior drill hall.
Interior work restored the historic spatial character of the building. Later mezzanines were removed to reopen the full volume of the drill hall, while the historic stage—long hidden by later alterations—was uncovered and incorporated into a circulation spine for offices.
Through careful rehabilitation and collaboration with the South Carolina Historic Preservation Office, the project preserves the Olympia Armory’s architectural integrity while ensuring its continued service as both a military facility and community venue.
Before images courtesy of Garvin Design Group. After images courtesy of Brian Dressler.
Before & After | Southwest Exterior
Before & After | South Exterior
Before & After | Drill Hall
Check out some of the other 2026 Preservation Award recipients:
2026 Preservation Awards | 2200 Sumter Street
Rehabilitation of 2200 Sumter Street brought a mid-century commercial building back to life after decades of neglect. Restored transparency, repaired historic features, and sensitive interior reuse reconnected the structure to its surrounding corridor.
2026 Preservation Awards | Advent Christian Church
At 1419 Anthony Avenue, a former 1940s church was carefully adapted into a private residence while retaining its historic identity. Restored materials and preserved interior features allow the building’s layered history to remain visible in its new life.
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2026 Preservation Awards | Pickens Street Cottages
The Pickens Street Cottages transformed a former parking lot into a residential enclave that echoes the scale and rhythm of the surrounding historic neighborhood. Through compatible design, materials, and site planning, the project reestablished a sense of continuity with the block’s residential past.