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Charles R. Drew Wellness Center

City of Columbia

Completion Date
2005

Project Budget
$7.2 Million

This new wellness and recreation facility for the City of Columbia, with its iconic presence on the north Harden Street thoroughfare, is expressive of the City’s commitment to the revitalization of Drew Park and the adjacent Celia Saxon neighborhood, an ambitious community plan implemented by the Columbia Housing Authority. The architectural solution features “outward reaching” roof forms denoting each major program element and rendered in glass, steel, and red brick. The short-course, Olympic sized pool is located behind glass walls facing Harden Street, allowing the activity within to be clearly observed along this busy street. Other wellness program elements in the 40,000 square foot facility include a basketball/volleyball gymnasium, cardio and weight rooms, and interior jogging track.

Represents experience of Doug Quackenbush as Principal-in-Charge and Barb Haller as Project Architect while at The Boudreaux Group.

Showcase Project

SCVRD Lyman Center

As the first new Center to be built for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department in over twenty years, the Lyman Center reflects the current mission and philosophy of the Department, providing counseling, rehabilitation, and work production services. The new 35,000sf structure, to be constructed in two phases, is subdivided into three major program components: an area office, a 10,000sf production/training floor, and a special services unit for occupational and physical therapy. Designed for an organization that values its relationships within the business community, the facility appeals to corporate and technological aesthetics while also blending with its organic, wooded site on the Middle Tyger River.

Northeast Engineering / Science Classroom Facility Construction

This 68,000 sq. ft. classroom building addition at the Northeast Technology Campus will become the new home of the Engineering and Science departments of the College. The program features teaching labs and classrooms focusing on clean energy technology, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing, supporting the mission of the College’s regional research partners. The design features strategies to provide student centered “casual” spaces that encourage social interaction and collaboration. The facility will showcase flexible spaces and planning strategies to respond to changes in mission and technology.

School Designs Change with the Times

If back-to-school brings visions of the proverbial little red schoolhouse, better think again. Today’s schools are more a combination of brain research, educational advancements, sustainability and technology, bringing new challenges for school architects and designers. This amphitheater was built into the design of the Center for Knowledge as another area of learning. (Photo/Courtesty Quackenbush Architects & Planners) “It’s really like the chicken and the egg,” said architect Doug Quackenbush, as educators and architects collaborate on designing new schools using resources and ideas from both fields. “We give school districts good advice on a fully performing 21st century school while they inform us of new teaching techniques and educational trends.”