SMHa

Summer vibes… Finding escape at some of our favorite places. Kiawah Island: The Nest Market & Cafe at Night Heron Park Seabrook Island: Pelican’s Nest & Island House SMHa designed Kiawah Island’s new Nest Market & Cafe, nestled among the great live oak trees, to serve as the island’s sole inland mercantile and marketplace. The shop features provisions, souvenirs, a commercial kitchen for grab-and-go menu items, and service for the adjacent pool area. Renovations to Seabrook Island’s Pelican’s Nest reconfigured the existing bar into a U-shape to take advantage of the breathtaking, one-of-a-kind ocean views and increase seating capacity, while renovations to the adjacent Island House included an expanded deck with fire pits, furnishings, and serving station for guests and residents to mingle and relax while capturing exquisite golf course views.

A change in perspective… Oftentimes, we find ourselves looking straight ahead, paying closest attention to what’s at eye level as we move forward to the next place, the next task… to what’s coming next. Details exist all around us, and what makes architecture interesting and inspiring is when it draws the eye up, creating an elevating presence and experience. Shown here are a few of our favorite ceilings from various projects throughout the years, reminding us the importance of a change in perspective every once in a while.

This caught our eye as we were sipping coffee and reading the news this morning… Bloomberg Businessweek feature "As Banking Moves Online, Branch Design Takes Cues From Starbucks." When Southern First Bank asked us and Craig Gaulden Davis to design their new corporate headquarters in Greenville, SC, the goal was to reflect the transformation of banking into its current place as, essentially, a technology company, while still providing the customer-service amenity, comfort, and accessibility that Southern First Bank’s clients have come to know and appreciate. The resulting design features public areas on the first and second floor devoted to bank customers and community relationships where, in addition to the retail banking component, there is a welcoming cafe, a large training room, and a rooftop terrace widely used for community gatherings and events. This trend, which Southern First has been at the forefront, is now being embraced by more banks.  As the article states, "Increasingly, customers are visiting physical banks to receive guidance on products such as mortgages, loans and financial planning, while accessing more basic services online... Banks are trying to cultivate a deeper connection not only to customers but to the neighborhoods they serve.”Kai Olsen, a director of interior design at HOK whose clients include Chase and Banco Santander SA, explains banks want to make people feel comfortable spending time and even hanging out in their spaces. “With everything shifting to the ability to bank without a retail brick-and-mortar component, banks really need to redefine what it means to have a physical presence,” says Olsen. "While it’s still possible to cash checks and make deposits at revamped branches, today’s consumers want a different kind of connection than the very transactional way banking was conducted in the past.” Architect of Record: Craig Gaulden Davis, Inc. Consulting Architect: SMHa Interior Design: SMHa and Day King Civil Engineer & Landscape Architect: SeamonWhiteside Structural Engineer: ADC Engineering, Inc MEP Engineer: MECA AV & Security Design: Solutionz Photography: High 5 Productions, Inc. https://lnkd.in/er2DQn-j

Signing before hoisting that final beam. 🏗️ Azalea Complex - Phase 2 Topping Off Ceremony Trident Construction, LLC Charleston County Government

The instant gratification of tilt wall! We have been honored to be the architects for this project providing critical services to the residents of Charleston County. The entire team along with County staff have worked diligently and collaboratively to bring this facility to life. We’re getting closer every day!

What wonderful new mentorship program founding principal Sam Herin, Sallie Hambright-Belue (Director of Undergraduate Architecture Programs), and graduate architecture student Kelsey Piotrowski have created. Don't let Sam fool you when he says he is retired! He continues to advance the architecture profession in so many ways. https://lnkd.in/eZiZM85g

A big thank you to our friends at Bello Garris Architects! Eddie and Eric quickly stepped in to help us set up for the Clemson Architectural Career Fair when we had an unexpected emergency arise. Every day, we are blessed to call Charleston home and to be surrounded by such a supportive and caring community.

Tech detox… Even if just for an hour. Today we set aside Revit and all the other technology on which we have come to rely and sketched the old fashioned way: with pencil and paper. Fun, and even a little frustrating if we’re being honest, it was refreshing to challenge ourselves to go back to basics. Which are not so basic after all!

Thank you to our friends at Lowcountry Case and Millwork for the behind-the-scenes tour of your facility. We even got to watch one of our client's cabinets being made! Lowcountry Case and Millwork is a longstanding local partner with a keen eye to detail and craftsmanship. What a treat to better get to know their staff and see their impressive operation up close. David Stasiukaitis Amy Stasiukaitis

Caught on site! There is no greater feeling than seeing a project come to life. We snuck up on a few architects in the field watching their drawings transform to reality. The same architects who draw your building are on site during construction, helping to ensure a smoother process and being readily available as questions arise.