The US Custom House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, holds a prominent position on the Harbor in Charleston SC. The building suffered from exterior and interior water damage and aged-out materials. GSA had a strong desire to stabilize the building to prevent further damage and to get an understanding of all the issues affecting the building. Funding was limited, so our team knew the project scope of work would require a phased approach. The overall mission was to provide a watertight building, restore the exterior of the ground floor, and prepare the interior for future tenant occupation. Liollio's scope of work over a 10-year period and multiple contracts included design and project management for preservation, alterations, restoration, and renovations; and the tenant upfit of spaces for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of Homeland Security. Five phases were recommended to meet established goals. The first focused on investigation and repair of the copper gutter and downspout system, which was suspected as the source for water intrusion 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 connections at the gutter and downspouts demonstrated significant leaking. The gutters were replaced with historically sensitive detailing and materials. A second source of moisture was the granite steps at the two main entrances. Water tests indicated moisture was traveling from the steps down through the brick structure to the ground floor. We established a design to remove all granite steps and install a waterproof barrier - then reinstall the historic granite steps. Brick walls at the ground floor were pointed to repair damaged mortar. Materials analyses were conducted during most phases of design to include brick, mortar and stucco composition, paint analysis, and bronze refinishing. These analyses provided valuable information to maintain original materials where possible and to provide historically correct finishes to the c.1877 period. 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