What’s Old is New Again | Downtown Charleston, SC Development Bridges Historic Past with Modern Sensibilities

Following a series of successful collaborations, a Los Angeles developer tapped Bittoni Architects to lead an 11th project outside of California  – 25,000 miles away in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. Excited to explore new terrain, the LA-based design team was challenged to capture the identity of the city’s streets in the design of what will be one of downtown Charleston’s largest buildings. Bittoni Architects designed the combined 187,797 square-foot mixed-use development – an apartment complex with retail space and a hotel/restaurant – with a contemporary twist that both honors and enriches the architectural context of Charleston. 

Bittoni Architects began planning the development of the two mixed-use buildings in November 2020. With the support of local architectural firm Goff D’Antonio Associates, Bittoni Architects researched Charleston’s history and architectural landscape to evoke the city’s charm with a novel approach. The design team references existing architectural elements in the arched windowed facade, ornamental detailing, and iconic porch fronts. Locally quarried stone was meticulously sourced to honor the existing landscape with a modern minimalist yet bold palette. The traditional and contemporary elements work together to introduce a fresh take on Charleston’s rich, historical architecture.

The Charleston project builds on and expands the portfolio of Bittoni Architects’ work outside of California and affords the multifaceted design studio a rewarding opportunity to enhance the culture within such a lively urban fabric.

About the Project

Construction began at the onset of 2023 with the development of two structures connected in their site plan yet distinctive in their identities. At 84-88 Society Street, a 90,959 square foot hotel and restaurant offer accommodation for tourists along with 22 condos for local residents. The building’s original 1950s facade was further aged to transport visitors back to early twentieth-century Charleston. A courtyard and adjoined restaurant will welcome visitors with Southern grandeur while a rooftop pool and bar will offer a convenient refuge under an extended glass atrium. 

At 29-35 George Street, the second building introduces 112 co-living units and a ground-level conservatory with retail storefronts. A two-level garage provides nearly one hundred and fifty parking stalls to support the new infrastructure. Together, the mixed-use developments will provide a hub for emerging companies and fulfill lodging shortages to house an influx of tourists and residents alike.