Happy 25th Birthday to the Peace Center of the Performing Arts

The Peace Center, the catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Greenville and the Reedy River recently celebrated a monumental birthday. Initially conceived as a home for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and to improve the quality of life for community residents, the Peace Center has played a vital role in improving Greenville’s economy. Attendance and revenues have steadily increased from 75,000 people in the center’s inaugural season in 1990-91 to over 287,000 tickets this past season. For any given show, the restaurants and hotels downtown swell with eager art lovers.

Craig Gaulden Davis was a critical part of a task force led by the late Greenville attorney David Freeman. The six-acre site was home to a paint shop, a dry cleaner, a sewing plant, a construction office and the old coach factory. It has been reported that the Reedy River regularly changed colors at the time. With the support of Betty Peace Stall, Dorothy Hipp Gunter and other prominent families, the 2,100 seat concert hall and 400 seat theatre opened on November 19, 1990 to rave reviews from performers and patrons. Over the last twenty-five years, there have been numerous improvements to the facilities and the site, however, the concert halls remain unchanged. Former USSR State Symphony conductor Edvard Tchivzhel, who conducts the Greenville Symphony, said that both halls offer a “very clear, warm, rich and natural sound.” (Greenville News 1-3-2016).

In addition to the Greenville Symphony, the Peace Center has provided a home for the South Carolina Children’s Theatre, countless classical performers, a presidential debate and Broadway shows. Our community has benefitted enormously from the educational programs that reach tens of thousands of children each year, including under-privileged children who would otherwise never have the opportunity to experience the arts.

Craig Gaulden Davis is proud have been a part of such an outstanding addition to a great city. Happy Birthday, Peace Center!

Kirk Craig

Visions of a Steeple

For there to be significant architectural structures like the Peace Center, someone has to have a strong, clear vision. Kirk Craig, one of the founders of our firm, was a lifelong member of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church. Kirk, along with a handful of other church members, believed that the church needed a steeple to add scale and prominence to this beautiful structure which has been a vital part of downtown Greenville for over a hundred years . Historical data indicates that the church had a small steeple at one time that was blown off by a violent storm and never replaced. So strong was Kirk’s desire to have the tallest steeple in a city housing the most beautiful bells, sketches of the idea were found in his briefcase after he passed away.

The design has been resurrected by several current church members. One member’s vision is not only that Buncombe Street would have a steeple, but that all the bells in the city would ring at noon each day. The ringing throughout the city would identify Greenville as a spiritual city, surely part of the vision of Greenville’s founder Vardry McBee when he deeded property to the downtown churches. It may take decades for a vision to become reality, but sometimes it is worth the wait!

Pedrick’s Garden Receives More Recognition

When thinking of parks, most people would not associate precast concrete as a compatible material. However, precast proved to be the best material available to create the sunflower petal inspired structures for Pedrick’s Garden at Falls Park. Craig Gaulden Davis worked closely with the manufacturer to create an intriguing texture and unique color on the curving walls. The resulting quality of the design and the character of the overall park led the Architectural Precast Association to bestow the Trim/Landscape Design Award to the project.

Since opening last year, Pedrick’s Garden at Falls Park has received many accolades, including the South Carolina American Society of Landscape Architects President’s Award of Excellence and the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence – Silver Medal. Having worked alongside city officials and planners, landscape architects, engineering consultants, philanthropists, and artisans, CGD is honored to have played a major role in bringing to fruition one of the region’s most lauded urban parks.

Bearwood Plastic Surgery Appreciates Service as Well as Aesthetics

Passing Bearwood’s existing office in Anderson, it is clear that the plastic surgeons understand the importance of aesthetics. Their current office resembles a cathedral with steep pitched roofs and stained glass. CGD was selected to design their new facility because of the firm’s design sensitivity. Bearwood did not want a facility like any other; they desired to be unique and recognized that CGD shares the same goal on each project. As the project nears completion, the owner has come to understand that CGD offers much more than excellent design. In reviewing submittals and shop drawings, CGD monitors the materials being used on the project. Regular site visits and a willingness to work closely with the contractor ensures quality construction. Every project has inherent field challenges, but it is very rewarding to witness vision transformed into reality.

Anderson School District Two Selects CGD

Based on the firm’s qualifications in educational design and the recently successful renovation at Belton Middle School, Anderson School District Two has selected Craig Gaulden Davis to assist with their design needs for the next five years. Last year, CGD worked with the district to replace the floor tile in the corridors, renovate group toilets and give the building an updated feel by adding graphics and lighting in strategic areas. With funds received annually from a county-wide sales tax, CGD will continue to aid the district in making their older, but sound facilities reflect the quality of education that their students are receiving.