John Sherrer
2026 Preservation Awards | Conway Architectural Salvage & Heritage Project
Thursday, May 14th 2026
Conway Architectural Salvage & Heritage Project received the inaugural Traditional Building Arts award for innovative leadership in preservation through deconstruction, education, and material salvage that transforms loss into opportunity and keeps historic craftsmanship alive for future generations.
2026 Preservation Awards | Main Street District
Thursday, May 14th 2026
Main Street District received the 2026 Preservation Leadership Award for visionary leadership in using historic preservation as a catalyst for downtown revitalization, transforming Main Street into a thriving urban district through advocacy, strategic designation, and measurable economic impact.
2026 Preservation Awards | Lydia Mattice Brandt
Thursday, May 14th 2026
Dr. Lydia Mattice Brandt received the 2026 Preservation Leadership Award for advancing public understanding of Columbia’s built environment through scholarship, teaching, and community engagement that strengthens historic preservation in both practice and principle.
Last Call, but Not Last Rites: Deconstruction's Role in Preservation
Thursday, October 23rd 2025
Photo courtesy Anna Garrison When a beloved local landmark closed its doors, the community faced the loss of more than a favorite gathering place. What happened next turned a story of demolition into one of preservation, creativity, and collaboration.
2025 Preservation Awards | John C. Heslep House
Friday, May 16th 2025
Recently significantly rehabilitated, 303 Saluda Avenue arguably ranks among Columbia’s most iconic early twentieth century residences. Today home to the Tomlin family, the ca.-1917 house grew into its current form and style between 1927 and 1928 under the ownership of John C. Heslep, a prominent local contractor.
2025 Preservation Awards | DePass House
Friday, May 16th 2025
Nestled in the National Register of Historic Places-listed University Hill neighborhood, 920 Gregg Street, aka the DePass House, is notable for architecture and for its association with a former owner involved in South Carolina’s last legally sanctioned duel.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1324 Richland Street
Friday, May 16th 2025
A desire to pay homage to local businessman and political activist Joseph Azar led relative William Akel to construct a new commercial building on land that had previously stood vacant for decades following a fire that claimed the ca.-1860 cottage originally fronting Richland Street.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1700 Huger Street
Friday, May 16th 2025
In 2016, two of Columbia’s most respected family-owned businesses— Flooring by Cogdill and Cromer’s Peanuts—left what for most passersby was simply a large commercial building featuring a post-modern, multi-story office and retail space from the mid-1980s. In 2022, after nearly six years having stood vacant, 1700 Huger Street found new life when it was purchased and transformed to meet the needs of Columbia Presbyterian Church, a young congregation of over 500 members that had outgrown its previous location in the Cottontown area.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1429 Hagood Avenue
Friday, May 16th 2025
Some residences standing in historic and architectural conservation districts like that of Melrose Heights-Oaklawn feature garages and garage apartments established in the 1920s through 1950s. Repurposing elements of properties can involve teaching old buildings new tricks through sensitive adaptations.
2025 Preservation Awards | The Laundry
Friday, May 16th 2025
Adaptive use of historic buildings has played a key role in the success of Columbia’s BullStreet District realizing its full potential. Rehabilitation of the circa-1883 laundry building marks the latest chapter in the decades-long transformation.