The General Services Administration had a project goal of making the ground floor (a storage area for most of the life of the structure) into much needed leasable space. The building is located on the harbor in Charleston SC and was experiencing several moisture intrusion issues. GSA requested that Liollio provide recommendations and associated design to resolve these issues, repair damage from the moisture, and prepare the ground floor for tenants. The Liollio team first conducted a Conditions Assessment Report for a phased approach to design and construction. Funding was very limited. Therefore, the master plan focused on partitioning the approach and prioritizing the work. A budget was assigned to each phase of work to include costs for design and construction. Five phases were recommended to meet the goals established by GSA. The first focused on the investigation and repair of the copper gutter and downspout system which was suspect, due to interior plaster damage and moisture present in the walls of the cortile. Camera investigation showed the downspouts to be in excellent condition, while water tests on the connections at the gutter and downspouts demonstrated leaking. The gutters were replaced with like-detailing and materials original to the building. A second source of moisture was the granite steps on the two main entrances of the building.  Water tests indicated moisture was traveling from the steps down through the brick structure to the spaces on the ground floor. A design was established to remove all granite steps and install a waterproof barrier, then reinstall the granite steps. Brick on the walls of the ground floor were then pointed to repair damaged mortar. The Liollio team was all in for 10 years - interior and exterior preservation and restoration for this beautiful historic building.

For inquiries related to this project, please contact jay@liollio.com

2016 AIA South Atlantic Region Honor Award
2013 AIA Charleston Merit Award
2012 AIA South Carolina Merit Award