Though many associate the peninsula of Charleston, South Carolina, with its southernmost tip and its dense streets of magnificent 18th- and 19th-century houses, there is more to the city’s story. Moving northward, things get a bit funky. Here, historic homes and churches and Marion Square give way to less noteworthy features, like swaths of surface parking, gas stations, and a crenelated Embassy Suites. Yet within this unprepossessing context, a lone midcentury office building has been transformed into a stylish 100,000-square-foot, 155-room hotel called the Dewberry.
The former L. Mendel Rivers Federal Building, designed by the now defunct South Carolina firm Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle and Wolff, was built in 1964 to house various government agencies. Modern and Minimalist, it was constructed in accordance with 1962’s Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture, which charged buildings to “reflect the dignity, enterprise, vigor and stability of the American Government” and incorporate elements that reflect regional design traditions. The facility closed in 1999, after sustaining damage from Hurricane Floyd.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.