Happy 110th Birthday to the National Park Service & Happy National Park Week!

For 110 years, the National Park Service has preserved America’s most treasured landscapes, historic sites, and cultural resources. We are honored to have partnered with the NPS on projects that help protect and enhance these extraordinary places, including:

@CongareeNationalPark – Boardwalks & Bridges
@VirginIslandsNationalPark – Lind Point Resource Management Facility & Housing
@CumberlandIslandNationalSeashore – Plum Orchard Manor
@BlueRidgeParkway – Moses Cone Manor
@CapeLookoutNationalSeashore – Cape Lookout Lighthouse
@ChristianstedNationalHistoricSite – Historic Preservation Projects

A very special Happy 70th Birthday to Virgin Islands National Park! For seven decades, the park has protected the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historic resources of St. John for visitors from around the world.

Thank you to the National Park Service for 110 years of stewardship and preservation. We are proud to play a role in helping preserve these remarkable places for future generations.

Learn more about the history of the National Park Service here.

Angel Oak Tree Earns Recognition on the National Register of Historic Places

Congratulations to Lowcountry Land Trust on the Angel Oak’s official listing on the National Register of Historic Places! This landmark designation marks the Angel Oak as the first tree in South Carolina to be individually documented on the National Register, recognizing not only its remarkable presence but also its deep cultural and historical significance. Having stood witness to centuries of Lowcountry history, the Angel Oak reflects the stories of Indigenous communities, plantation-era life, Reconstruction, education, agriculture, the Civil Rights Movement, and ongoing conservation efforts.

his achievement is supported by extensive historical, cultural, and archaeological research conducted as part of the planning for the Angel Oak Preserve. In partnership with BVL Historic Preservation Research, Lowcountry Land Trust documented the history of the tree and surrounding landscape, reinforcing its importance as a multi-generational social and spiritual symbol for the people of Johns Island.

rom your friends at Liollio Architecture, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and your continued stewardship of one of the Lowcountry’s most treasured landmarks.

Learn more about this important designation for the Angel Oak on The Ebb & Flow here.

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.

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!

Happy Earth Day 2025!

Liollio celebrates Earth Day 2025! As our recognition of Earth Day comes to a close, we turn the spotlight on the National Park Service U.S. Virgin Island’s Resource Management and Science Facility and Park Staff Housing in Lind Point. Designed for extreme resilience, this facility provides staff residences, areas to encourage community engagement and outreach, and space for research and storage, allowing the protection and study of the islands’ heritage for future generations. Parks are essential in caring for our country’s cultural treasures and recreational sites – and we encourage you to go and open the door - get outside and explore them!

Earth Day 2025: Visit Your State Parks!

Earth Day is just one week away! As we continue to highlight projects that celebrate the great outdoors, we turn to South Carolina’s Parks, Recreation & Tourism’s Charles Towne Landing. This 664-acre historic site features six miles of trails for walking, biking, and exploring, along with the Animal Forest natural habitat zoo, 80 acres of gardens, and versatile event spaces. Designed to be transparent, the surrounding landscape remains the visual focus. South Carolina’s State Parks offer spaces for the community to gather, learn, and explore – together!

Learn more about CharlesTowne Landing State Historic Site here.

Earth Day 2025: Visit Your Local Parks!

As Earth Day approaches, Liollio encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy their local parks! Check out Carr-Richardson Park - a hidden gem nestled in the historic Ashleyville/Maryville neighborhood of West Ashley in Charleston, S.C. Alongside the City of Charleston, Liollio prioritized sustainable and resilient design to allow this beautiful space to be enjoyed for generations to come. Local parks bring communities together, provide space for events, and offer opportunities to connect with the natural environment. The countdown to Earth Day is on!

Discovery Place Celebrates Topping Out Milestone of Charlotte Museum of Nature

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We recently had the honor of attending the Discovery Place Charlotte Museum of Nature Topping Out Ceremony. We are excited to see this impactful space take its next steps with this milestone! The building taking shape is thoughtfully designed to serve as a threshold, connecting public spaces such as the new Gathering Grove, Little Sugar Creek Greenway, and Freedom Park to the immersive and magical forest floor experience. This landscape-driven design approach reflects our goal to inspire museum visitors to move from observing nature to actively participating in the natural world around us.

We are grateful to our design, engineering, and construction partners: Hood Design Studio, Stimmel, Stewart, Optima, Wildlands Engineering, and Rodgers Builders. A special thanks to Discovery Place and Mecklenburg County for giving us the opportunity to help bring this meaningful vision to life!