Earth Day 2026: SCDNR's SCORE Program

As we reflect on Earth Day 2026, we wanted to share a recent experience we had volunteering with SCDNR’s South Carolina Oyster Recycling & Enhancement (SCORE) program. SCORE is a community-based oyster restoration program that depends on volunteers to help restore oyster reefs – the only program of its kind in South Carolina that restores oyster reefs strictly for the ecological benefits they provide. We assisted SCORE program leaders in restoring valuable habitat while being educated on the ecological importance of oyster reefs and the habitat that oysters create.

Oyster shell recycling is crucial for restoring coastal ecosystems by providing a hard, natural substrate for larval oysters to attach to and grow, which is essential for rebuilding reef habitats. These reefs filter water (up to 50 gallons/day per oyster), protect shorelines from erosion by reducing wave energy by up to 99%, and provide critical habitats for fish, crabs, and shrimp. 

Working with SCORE allowed us the opportunity to give back to the environment as well as our local community in a meaningful, hands-on way. Thank you to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources SCORE Program Leaders for educating us and helping us become better stewards of the environment!

For information on volunteering, contact score@dnr.sc.gov or visit http://score.dnr.sc.gov.

The Town of Mount Pleasant Breaks Ground on Gary Santos Park

Video of the Town of Mount Pleasant breaking ground at the future site of Gary Santos Park.

The Town of Mount Pleasant recently broke ground on the future Gary Santos Park, marking the start of construction on the new recreation destination that will serve residents for generations to come. Nestled along Rifle Range Road and Vaughn Ed Kee Parkway, the park will connect directly to Mount Pleasant Way and transform the site into a vibrant community space focused on recreation, wellness, and gathering. The park is named in honor of former Mount Pleasant Town Council Member Gary Santos, whose time in public service was defined by his deep commitment to youth athletics, recreation, and creating opportunities for future generations. We are honored to collaborate with the Town of Mount Pleasant, SeamonWhiteside, and Choate Construction Company to deliver this thoughtfully designed recreational facility that expands access to high quality athletic spaces and community amenities.

Spotlight On: Matthew Ngango

Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate and get to know them better. Our latest Spotlight On feature is Matthew Ngango. Matthew joined the Liollio team last year and is a graduate of Clemson University, where he earned his Master of Architecture. In 2017, Matthew also earned his Bachelor of Environmental Design at Uganda Martyrs University in Nkozi, Uganda. With a passion for exploring and communicating ideas in architecture, he believes that clarity of information and respect for others through collaboration is crucial to discovering, developing, representing, and presenting impactful solutions to design challenges. Matthew contributes to the success of our studio and projects, engaging in collaborative dialogue and creating physical models, animations, and renderings. We sat down for a Q+A session with our newest Spotlight On feature:

Where did you grow up?
Kampala and Entebbe in Uganda

Are you married?
Yes, married to Abby Ngango for one and a half years

Do you have children?
Not yet

What do you like to do for fun?
Urban hiking and sketching

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
Not yet

Favorite place(s) to go locally?
Galleries & Downtown Charleston

Favorite restaurant?
Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant in Asheville

Favorite food?
Ethiopian Food

Least favorite food?
Black Mushrooms

Favorite book?
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Do you play any instruments?
Acoustic guitar, Drum Sets, and Bass guitar

What song is at the top of your most played list?
Telling Stories by Tracy Chapman

Favorite musical artist or genre?
Queen/80’s Rock

Favorite visual artist?
Ignat Ignatov

Favorite television show?
Abbott Elementary

Last book you read?
Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human by John Mark Comer

Favorite podcast or blog?
99% Invisible

Favorite movie or genre?
Shrek, Animation

Last movie you watched?
The Bad Guys 2

Favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Rose Mary Beach, because it was perfect for a honeymoon.

Favorite style of architecture?
Vernacular Architecture

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you?
National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC

What would the book or movie about your life be called?
Besides Paradise

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Daniel Kaluuya

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
An eagle because I would appreciate seeing the bigger picture.

Are you messy or organized?
Messy

What’s your pet peeve?
Cold feet

Guilty pleasure?
Coffee Lemonade

Tell us a random fact.
I have twin brothers and so does my wife.

Favorite quote?
”A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Denzel Washington

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
When Jesus walked on water

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
My passport

What three traits characterize you?
Enthusiastic, genuine, and curious

What’s your astrological sign?
Pisces

What is your personal philosophy?
Let love change me since I have a choice in my response to situations.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
My faith

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Loving well

What is your greatest fear?
Being misunderstood

What is your superpower?
Connecting dots

What inspires you most?
My mum’s sacrifices

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Knowing amazing people

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The positive collaborative attitude towards people and work

What does true leadership mean to you?
True leadership listens, provides clarity, and holds accountability.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A rock band drummer

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Enjoy the journey and take time to listen, even to the wind.

How do you define success?
Success is not perfection, but it is achieving excellence while creating great memories and relationships.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
When I was young, I once accidentally swallowed glass; but I am here.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Approach every situation as if it is the first and last time; no situation is ever the same since time passes, the environment evolves, and people change.

Celebrating National Library "Shelfie" Day

Happy National Library “Shelfie” Day! This day is celebrated annually on the fourth Wednesday in January to promote reading and libraries by encouraging people to take photos of their bookshelves and share them. Initiated in 2014 by the New York Public Library, the day encourages sharing unique personal, school, or library book collections. In addition to sharing “shelfies” today, we thought we’d ask our studio to share some of their favorite books and why they love them. Here are a few of their favorite picks:

The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak
Why I love this book: The story is beautifully told with such rich context as it demonstrates how architecture can be a metaphor for life. 
Favorite Passage: “It was after this incident that Jahan understood his master’s secret resided not in his toughness, for he was not tough, nor in his indestructibility, for he was not indestructible, but in his ability to adapt to change and calamity, and to rebuild himself, again and again, out of the ruins. While Jahan was made of wood, and Davud of metal, and Nikola of stone, and Yusuf of glass, Sinan was made of flowing water. When anything blocked his course, he would flow under, around, above it, however he could; he found his way through the cracks, and kept flowing forward.”

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Why I love this book: I first read Flowers for Algernon in my 8th grade English class, and it's been my go-to book ever since. When I need to read something meaningful, it helps me think outside of my own head.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Why I love this book: It’s an intense, uncompromising defense of individualism, integrity, and creative independence. For me personally, it was life-changing, empowering, and deeply thought-provoking.
Favorite Passage: "Your work, the material the earth offers you, and what you make of it, is the meaning of life."

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Why I love this book: It’s a collection of poetic essays in which a wise prophet shares profound insights on love, passion, work, reason, death, freedom, and more, offering timeless wisdom on the human condition.
Favorite Passage: "I do not recognize anyone’s right to one minute of my life. Nor to any part of my energy. Nor to any achievement of mine... I don't intend to build in order to have clients. I intend to have clients in order to build."

Happy reading to all, and remember, reading is fundamental!

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: A Day On, Not A Day Off

Viti the Realize the Dream website by clicking image.

Today, and all week long, we reflect on and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by honoring his message and vision centered on achieving racial equality, justice, and human rights for all people. The MLK Day of Service, designated by Congress in 1994, transforms Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday into a "day on, not a day off" for national volunteerism, encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities to honor Dr. King's legacy of justice and service by tackling issues like poverty, hunger, and education.

Realize the Dream was born from the belief in the power of service to not just help others but to also build understanding, empathy and unity between people and communities. It’s a bold call to perform 100 million hours of service by the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's birth and a rallying cry for us all to make a difference through acts of love, compassion and goodwill. Learn more about how you can help make a difference by visiting Realize the Dream.

SCBIZ Recognizes Andy Clark in Inaugural South Carolina 500 Top Business Leaders List

“We believe one of the best ways to grow our studio for the future is to align it as closely as possible with academia, fostering creative energy, innovation and an innate desire to ask questions.”

— Andy Clark, AiA, LEED AP, Principal

The South Carolina 500 is SCBIZ’ first-ever list of The Palmetto State’s most influential and impactful leaders in business, nonprofits, government and higher education. This annual feature aims to spotlight South Carolina’s most influential professionals, and the selections were based on career achievements, impact, and leadership. Andy is one of three principal architects leading the Liollio team and guiding the firm’s third generation of leadership. The entire Liollio team congratulates Andy on this recognition! View Andy’s feature here. Click here to view SCBIZ’s entire South Carolina 500 list.

Best of 2025: Year in Review

As we look back on an amazing year, we're reflecting on the incredible people and partnerships that define our work. For us, architecture is about more than just stunning structures; it's about solving challenges and bringing our clients' unique visions to life.

This past year, we worked alongside visionary clients and consultants who value innovation, sustainability, preservation, education, and resiliency to design long-lasting structures that foster unity and growth within our community and the Southeast Region. Clients come to us with a need for inviting, functional spaces, and through close collaboration and our integrated design process, we are able to create spaces that serve their missions for years to come. We are deeply grateful for the trust our clients place in us and for the opportunity to contribute to the built environment in meaningful ways.

Cheers to the Liollio team members who achieved architectural licensure, received recognition for their contribution to the community and the profession, those we welcomed to our studio, and those who were elevated within the firm! Thank you to our entire dedicated team and valued consultants for another year of shared creativity and impact. Here's to building a better future, together.

View our Portfolio // View our Team // 2025 Awards

Happy New Year!

Happy NEW YEAR from your friends at Liollio!

Celebrating 2025 AIA Charleston Awards

As we reflect on another exciting year, we extend our sincere gratitude to the clients who place their trust in us to provide thoughtful architecture that strengthens and serves our communities. This year, AIA Charleston honored six projects with seven local awards! The College of Charleston’s Simons Center for the Arts and First Baptist Church Of Charleston’s Education Center received AIA Charleston Honor Awards, the highest level of distinction for exceptional design. The City of Charleston’s Carr-Richardson Park received an AIA Charleston Merit Award for distinguished achievement. The Old City Jail received an AIA Merit Award and Student Choice Award for Landmark Enterprises’ preservation and adaptive reuse of the historic building. National Park Service’s Lind Point Resource Management & Science Facility & Housing and Charlotte Mecklenburg’s South County Regional Library were honored with AIA Charleston Citation Awards.

We are honored to have collaborated with these amazing clients, partners, and project teams on these award-winning efforts. We congratulate all of the deserving recipients of the 2025 AIA Charleston Awards, recognized for their vision and commitment to design excellence! View all of this year’s award recipients here.

Happy Holidays!

May your holiday season and new year
be full of LIGHT, prosperity and cheer.

Happy holidays from your friends at Liollio!

Liollio Celebrates 70 Years of Designing for Place

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As Liollio Architecture celebrates 70 years of designing for place, we honor our past and celebrate our future. We know that our longevity is a result of working with amazing clients, our collaborative process, our team culture, and our firm leadership. We also celebrate the career achievements and contributions of our second generation of leadership as they retire from architecture, C. Dinos Liollio, FAIA, LEED AP, and Rick L. Bousquet, AIA, LEED AP.

Celebrating 2025 AIA South Carolina Awards

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As we celebrate and reflect on 2025, we are grateful to our amazing clients who invest in thoughtful architecture to serve our communities! This year, AIA South Carolina recognized the National Park Service with an AIA South Carolina Framework for Design Excellence Award and an AIA South Carolina Merit Award for the design of NPS’s new USVI Lind Point Resource Management Science Facility and Housing. The College of Charleston was also recognized with an AIA South Carolina Honor Award for the renovation and expansion of the Simons Center for the Arts. We are honored to have collaborated with the National Park Service, The College of Charleston, and our project teams on these award-winning projects. Cheers to all who were recognized with AIA South Carolina Awards, acknowledging their vision and commitment to design excellence!

Liollio Celebrates Team 2025 Licensures!

Liollio celebrates the accomplishments of our team. We are pleased to announce Mason Malsegna and Hunter Thurlo have gained their professional architectural licensure. Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off. Congratulations from our entire team!

About Mason: Mason’s interest and research in sustainable, equitable, and resilient design methodologies, combined with his passion for social justice helps Liollio to produce equitable and thoughtful designs. His thought leadership and attention to detail have strengthened our design studio. Mason has served as Architectural Designer on projects of varying types and sizes, and he aspires to promote sustainable and resilient architecture through his involvement as Chair, and now as an active member of COTE South Carolina.

About Hunter: A key contributor to Liollio’s culture, Hunter plays an active role in the studio. Whether presenting in pinups, participating in charrettes, or engaging in critical project discussions, he brings balanced focus to both detail and overall massing. With a deep appreciation for sensible preservation, Hunter has a meticulous approach to historic materials and design. He believes that architecture should honor a community’s vernacular while embracing modern building technologies, bridging the past and present through design that is both respectful and forward-thinking.

AIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION AWARDS REFLECTION: COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SIMONS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

In this time of reflection, gratitude and celebration, Liollio is so grateful to our wonderful clients who invest in thoughtful buildings and spaces to serve our communities! This year, AIA South Atlantic Region recognized the College of Charleston with an AIA South Atlantic Region (SAR) ASPIRE Honor Award for the renovation and expansion of the Simons Center for the Arts. We are honored to have collaborated with the College, our friends at HGA, and our entire project team on this award-winning project. Exceptional projects are the result of collaboration with visionary clients!

Cheers to all who were recognized with 2025 AIA South Atlantic Region Awards, acknowledging their vision and commitment to design excellence. Liollio congratulates our colleagues, clients, and collaborators on these amazing accolades!

Ray Huff Inaugural Lecture Series: Cristina Verissimo & Diogo Burnay

Don’t miss out on next week's Ray Huff Inaugural Lecture Series, honoring the legacy of Associate Professor Emeritus Ray Huff FAIA, NOMA. Liollio Architecture is honored to have established this endowed series dedicated to enriching the educational experience of Clemson School of Architecture students by hosting distinguished speakers who will explore topics in critical design and innovative architectural practices. The inaugural lecture will feature Cristina Verissimo and Diogo Burnay of CVDB arquitectos, a critically acclaimed practice based in Lisbon, Portugal, focusing on the social role of public architecture in small communities. Hope to see you there! Eventbrite link here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT LIOLLIO!

Liollio’s Mary Tran Honored in CRBJ’s Forty Under 40 Awards

The Charleston Regional Business Journal recently hosted its annual Forty Under 40 event, celebrating this year’s outstanding honorees. We are thrilled to announce that Mary Tran, Associate AIA + IIDA, Project Designer, and Interior Designer was recognized as one of the award recipients!

Mary works with a diverse range of public and institutional clients, approaching each project as an opportunity to engage stakeholders and create spaces that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. Congratulations to Mary and all the 2025 Forty Under 40 honorees from everyone at Liollio Architecture!

Spotlight On: Carlos Vazquez

Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate and get to know them better. Our latest Spotlight On feature is Carlos Vazquez. Carlos joined the Liollio team this year and is a graduate of Bethel College in Kansas, where he earned his Bachelor of Industrial Arts. With a unique background of construction and architectural professional experience, Carlos brings a well-rounded perspective to the Liollio team. He has project expertise spanning a wide range of markets and a proven track record of successfully leading design and construction teams, delivering value, mitigating project risk, and exceeding client goals. We sat down for a Q+A session with our newest Spotlight On feature:

Where did you grow up?
All over – Born in NYC, where I went to elementary school, then moved to Puerto Rico, where I attended middle school, then moved to South Florida, where I attended high school, and then college in Kansas.

Are you married?
Yes, 25+ years to my wife Joanne

Do you have children? If so, tell us a bit about them.
Yes, three: Melissa (granddaughter Mea, 12); Natasha, an elementary school teacher & Brian, a high school teacher (granddaughter Eliana, 12 & grandson Connor, 9); and Antonio (Tony), a Major U.S .Army Foreign Area Officer & Tammie, a college counselor (granddaughter Catherine, 6 & grandson Arthur, 3).

What do you like to do for fun?
Anything outdoors - travel, exploring, boating, design-build, fixing something

Favorite place(s) to go locally?
Beach

Favorite restaurant?
Currently exploring!

Favorite food? 
Puerto Rican (Arroz con Pollo, Pasteles), Italian (Pizza, Lasagna), and Low Country Boil

Do you play any instruments?
No, I attempted piano and guitar, but it did not stick. Spanish tradition is the guitar.

What song is at the top of your most played list?
Hotel California by The Eagles, Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band, ,and I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing by Aerosmith

Favorite visual artist?
Salvador Dali

Favorite television show?
This Old House

Favorite podcast or blog?
What’s this? HAHAHA!

Favorite movie or genre?
Action/Adventure & Drama

Favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Monterey, CA, Washington D.C., Annapolis, MD, and Anchorage, AK

Favorite style of architecture?
Palladium Architecture (symmetry) refers to a classical architectural style that emerged during the Renaissance in Italy, particularly associated with the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio.

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you?
Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright - being able to envision design while walking on site, translating it to paper, then building it!

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to and why?
Driving the Southern U.S. Coast from Padre Island, Texas to Marco Island, Florida - meeting people and sharing foods and spirits with different cultures. 

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Me (for the money) 

If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
Lion, king of the jungle (hahaha), first grandchild-grandson on fathers’ side, Spanish culture 

Are you messy or organized?
More organized

What is your pet peeve?
Picking up after others. Clean up your mess! Don’t expect others to clean up your mess.

Guilty pleasure?
Ice Cream

Tell us a random fact. 
Outside linebacker with 4.59 speed

Favorite quote? 
“Do you feel lucky Punk?”  - A famous line from the 1971 film Dirty Harry, spoken by Clint Eastwood's character, Harry Callahan & "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - A line from the 1939 film Gone with the Wind starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
The Pope

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you save?
Family pictures 

What three traits characterize you?
Strength, love challenges, respectful, and honest. 

What’s your astrological sign?
Leo

What is your personal philosophy?
Always proceed with your best foot forward. Treat all with respect and dignity. Help others when in need.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Spouse and Family

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Being a single parent and learning you’re not superman.

What is your superpower?
Faith, belief in oneself, and helping others.

What inspires you most?
Life, adventure, people, and cultures.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
My kids

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The people

What does true leadership mean to you? 
Leading a group of people to accomplish a goal by Teamwork, mentoring

How do you define success?
My kids and grandkids – Teaching and pushing softly in a positive direction with love. Watching their success, education, and talents as individuals.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I’ve completed several MS150 bike rides. I’m an Executive Member on my Church Board. I managed church food coop distribution. I’ve been involved with numerous volunteer services. I never quit!

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Be strong and have faith! Take the next step! 

Liollio Team Members Reflect on 2025 AIA National Conference on Architecture

Each month, our studio gathers to share meaningful engagements and experiences that team members are actively involved in. Last month, several staff members reflected on their time at the 2025 AIA National Conference in Boston, MA. Their insights were both inspiring and energizing to the entire studio.

Ri Glal and William Scott shared: "Over the course of three days, we had the opportunity to meet incredibly talented architects, engage in impactful conversations around topics like climate justice and advocacy through architecture, explore an expo with hundreds of vendors, and experience the energy and charm of Boston."

We were also proud to see Matthew Ngango and Jared Cook, recent additions to the Liollio team, present at the COTE Open Forum. They shared insights from their award-winning 2024 COTE Top Ten for Students project, Alamihi Village, developed during their time at Clemson University. The project addresses the complex challenge of rebuilding in Lahaina, Maui, following one of the most devastating wildfires in U.S. history in August 2023. Centered on a 9-acre site at the edge of the affected area, Alamihi Village explores opportunities for cultural conservation, ecological restoration, and economic development.

Matthew and Jared reflected: “We’re grateful for the representatives from Liollio Architecture who joined us at the forum. As our first AIA conference, the experience extended beyond the event itself, including visits around Boston, inspiring talks, and engaging Expo showcases.”

Thank you to all who shared their takeaways from the conference, we acknowledge the passion and curiosity that drives our team and are excited to see how these findings are implemented into our work!

2025 SC Historic Preservation Awards Honors Rehabilitation of Old City Jail

For 30 years, Preservation South Carolina, the SC Department of Archives and History, and the Office of the Governor have recognized exceptional accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of architectural and cultural heritage with a series of statewide awards. We are honored to announce that the rehabilitation of Old City Jail was recently recognized with a 2025 SC Historic Preservation Honor Award.

Once neglected and at risk, this landmark has been carefully rehabilitated, balancing preservation and adaptive reuse. The restoration retained the Jail’s historic character while introducing thoughtful interventions, ensuring its continued use and stewardship.

Liollio would like to congratulate Landmark Enterprises, Charles Blanchard Construction, and our entire team on this amazing project that truly was a combination of head and heart.

For more information about Preservation South Carolina, visit www.preservesc.org.