NCCAES Celebrates One Year

North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary School is celebrating one year since opening its doors to students. CGD, in association with Stubbs Muldrow Herin architects, provided design services for the Charleston County arts magnet school.

The design of the school is in conformance with its overall mission of engaging students in a multi-cultural, arts centered curriculum, which provides a safe, nurturing environment. This is evident as soon as one passes through the school’s front doors. A floating laminate cloud and whimsical fixtures over the welcome desk, exposed white structure, and natural light create a space that is cheerful and welcoming, yet maintains required security protocols.

Along the classroom corridors, each door is surrounded by a colorful entry portal that serves as pin up space and brightens the hallway. A central open gallery features high ceilings, airy cylindrical pendants, and full height pin up walls for displaying student artwork. Playful colors and art-centric spaces throughout the school foster creativity and engaged learning.

Clinton, SC

Greer, SC

Greenville, SC

Winston-Salem, NC

Four Firsts

It is not uncommon to have ministry work on the boards at CGD. It is notable, though, to simultaneously assist four congregations that share the distinction of being first among all Presbyterians in their respective towns. Covering two states, three counties, and travel distances ranging from one to 175 miles, four First Presbyterian churches have recently chosen CGD to provide various design services:

• First Presbyterian Church – Clinton, SC: facilities assessment of 1930s church building and adjacent 2000s Christian Life Center and master plan comprising sanctuary and nursery improvements
• First Presbyterian Church – Greer, SC: renovation and restoration of finishes church-wide; accessibility improvements, including an elevator and restroom addition, covered drop-off, and a bridge joining previously disconnected buildings
• First Presbyterian Church – Greenville, SC: master plan of downtown Greenville campus of over 100,000 sf and property on three adjacent city blocks
• First Presbyterian Church – Winston-Salem, NC: facilities assessment of entire campus encompassing a full block of downtown Winston-Salem; includes a 1920s chapel and education building original to the site, a 1970s sanctuary, a 1950s former bank building converted to church offices, and a 2000s worship center

These projects continue a long CGD tradition of coming alongside churches to build their vision as they seek to further impact and serve their communities.

Renovating the Wright Way

In the back of many home-owning designer’s minds are ambitious plans for the renovation and reordering of his or her domicile. The home provides a field lab of sorts for applying innovative materials, pushing the iterative design process to its limits, and simply getting one’s hands dirty. Our own Calvin Wright and his wife, Becky, have taken up such tasks and have spent the past year gutting and renovating their century old two story brick house in the heart of Greenville’s Greater Sullivan neighborhood.

What began as a single Bagster job quickly escalated to a multiple 40 yard dumpster undertaking. In addition to designing and now furnishing a clean, modern space, Calvin has fulfilled the role of plumber, electrician, mason, and carpenter. Highlights of the renovation include custom designed base mouldings, stained concrete kitchen countertops, and a floor to ceiling feature window that frames an eye-catching view into the backyard. Calvin, Becky, and their two dogs intend to occupy their renewed home in the coming days, bringing with them a wealth of experience that is a boon to any aspiring architect.