GMC’s Columbia Architecture team recently accepted the 2022 Preservation South Carolina Stewardship Award for their work restoring the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion. The Stewardship Awards recognize those who have ensured the ongoing preservation of historic buildings, structures or sites through long-term care, planning, management, protection, or continuous ownership.

The South Carolina Governor’s Mansion was built in 1855 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The prominent and well-known Italianate-style mansion has served as residence to the majority of South Carolina’s Governors since 1868. Many people visit the mansion, located in the heart of the Governor’s Green, a complex of surrounding gardens and two houses, the Lace House and Boylston House. Renovations completed on the exterior of the building were essential to the vitality and longevity of the historic Governor’s Mansion for decades to come.

The scope of renovations focused on the preservation and repair of the exterior elements of the building, including windows, wood trim, stucco, shutters and ironwork.  The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties served as a guideline for the project, with a focus on the necessary measures required to maintain and protect the exterior envelope of the building and to correct and repair deteriorated and damaged materials.  Materials were only replaced when necessary due to severe deterioration, where repair of the existing material was not possible. Any materials replaced or repaired were matched to the existing materials used to retain the historic character of the property.