Title: Savage Craft Ale Works
Location of Proejct: West Columbia, South Carolina
Project Completion Date: November 2020
Firm Name: Studio 2LR, Inc.

Short Description: Savage Craft Ale Works is a unique urban revitalization project that transforms several abandoned historic properties into a local gathering spot for family, friends, and neighbors in West Columbia, SC. The project scope includes the renovation of several historic buildings, construction of several new structures, and the creation of a shared outdoor green space. The design challenge for this project was to incorporate each of these individual components into a unified brand that embraces the historical significance of the site and engages visitors in a dynamic way.

Architect's Statement: The project site sits adjacent to a recently completed art park and artisan market, and is within walking distance to nearby shops, restaurants, and homes. The Congaree River is also a popular nearby attraction with walking trails, canoeing, and amphitheater. Savage Craft Ale Works is designed to capitalize on the central location and serve as a community gathering spot.

The microbrewery + taproom building occupies an existing two-story 3,200 SF Gothic Revival style building, originally constructed in 1925 as the Brookland Fire Station & City Hall. The historic structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was renovated and expanded to accommodate programmatic functions. On the ground floor, the original fire station was converted into a taproom featuring a 62ft long bar that wraps around the original staircase enclosure. Interior light fixtures and finish selections were inspired by the original Gothic Revival style of the building. Upstairs, the original offices and meeting rooms (associated with the original city hall) were restored. Original wood flooring and trim was repaired and painted, while new lighting and mechanical systems were incorporated into the original ceilings.

On the building exterior, the south elevation (facing Center Street) features two large gothic arched openings. The openings had served as vehicular access for the original fire station bays but had been infilled over the years. These openings were restored with new custom wood/glass doors designed to evoke the original era of the building. Elsewhere, existing steel-frame windows were re-glazed and painted. The existing brick and precast accent features were also repainted with an overall color scheme designed to blend with the new addition.

A new 5,600 SF addition attached to the back of the building provides necessary space for the microbrewery, roof top terrace, elevator, stairs, and restrooms. The massing and scale of the building addition correlates to the height and scale of the original two-story historic structure. Ribbed metal exterior cladding references the industrial nature of the microbrewery, and brick veneer references the original masonry building construction. Large window openings and simple detailing serve to differentiate the new construction from the original construction. A partially covered roof terrace has a view of downtown Columbia across the river and overlooks the outdoor green space (beer garden) with fire pit, games, and music stage.

The 800 SF jail building, originally constructed in the early 1900’s and on the National Register of Historic Places, was converted to a full-service kitchen with a direct connection to the 3,000 SF event building, originally constructed as an armory in the early 1900’s. The jail building and armory building required significant structural repair, including the load bearing brick walls which were cleaned and restored to their original appearance. Existing doors and windows were also repaired or replaced with era inspired doors and windows. An exterior bathroom, service window, and canopy structure were added to the structures to allow for outdoor food service. An outdoor covered music stage anchors the northeast corner of the site, providing a focal point for live music performances and entertainment.

The project for Savage Craft Ale Works blends a variety of old and new architectural “ingredients” to achieve a distinctive design “flavor” that represents the brand and embraces the location it occupies.