South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Exterior Back Corner
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Exterior Front
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Exterior Before
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Interior Theater
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Theater Before
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Interior
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Interior Planetarium
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Interior Planetarium Upper
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Interior Before
South Carolina State Observatory Planetarium Exterior Corner
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South Carolina State Museum, Observatory, Planetarium, and Theater

Awarded:

  • AIA North Carolina, Tower Award, 2017
  • South Carolina, Governor’s Cup Award, 2016
  • AIA South Carolina, Adaptive Reuse / Renovation Honor Award, 2016
  • AIA Columbia, Merit Award, 2016
  • Palmetto Trust for Historic Restoration, 2015
  • Historic Columbia, New Construction in Historic Context, 2015
  • AIA South Carolina, Honor Award, 2015
  • AIA Charlotte, Merit Award, 2015
  • Southeastern Museum Conference Award, 2013

This project is an addition and renovation to the SC State Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Columbia Mill’s Building. New program spaces include an observatory with a rare 1926 Alvin Clark 12 3/8” refracting telescope, South Carolina’s largest planetarium that seats 150, a 4-D theater that seats 130, and new public entry spaces. The “Windows to New Worlds” expansion opened with a ribbon-cutting and several launched model rockets with great community attendance and news coverage.

In association with Clark Patterson Lee