Studio 2LR | Architecture + Interiors

The Laundry

Columbia, South Carolina

Constructed circa 1883, The Laundry is the oldest surviving service building on the campus of the former South Carolina State Hospital, founded in 1821 as the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum and regarded as the nation’s second-oldest public mental institution. Situated off of Bull Street behind the iconic Babcock Building, the two-story, 15,700-square-foot former laundry building structure stands alongside other historic service buildings, including the former bakery, once forming the operational backbone of the asylum. Today, its restoration anchors adaptive reuse efforts within the 181-acre BullStreet District redevelopment.

The exterior renovations carefully balanced preservation with performance upgrades. The deteriorated metal roof was replaced with a new standing seam metal roof system that incorporates rigid insulation, along with new gutters and downspouts. Window openings that had previously been bricked in were reopened and restored, and new historically appropriate windows and doors were installed. Custom concrete windowsills were fabricated for the large openings on the west elevation to replace missing historic elements, with historic photographs guiding the design of these new features. Existing ridge vents were repurposed into clerestory windows to introduce natural light into the building, and several original skylights were restored to further enhance daylighting. The historic cupola was also restored, with its original ventilation fans retained and showcased as architectural features. Paint was removed from the exterior brick masonry, and deteriorated mortar joints were repointed to preserve the integrity of the façade. New sidewalks and exterior stairs were constructed to connect the building to adjacent streetscape improvements within the BullStreet District. At the rear, an enclosed utility yard was created to screen condenser units and trash bins while also providing additional catering space adjacent to the kitchen.

Interior renovations transformed the structure into a functional, accessible, and flexible space while celebrating its industrial heritage. A portion of the main level floor was excavated to accommodate a new elevator lift and interior stair system, providing accessible circulation to the lower and upper levels and creating additional rentable square footage through newly designed landing areas. A new concrete slab was poured over the existing chipped and uneven slab to establish a level finished floor surface. To the south of the building, a large grass lawn was developed as outdoor event space directly connected to the interior venue. Inside, a central lobby provides access to individual lease areas and incorporates shared restroom facilities for current and future tenants. Mechanical platforms located above the restroom areas house air handlers serving the building’s HVAC systems. The original laundry equipment, including the large industrial dryers, was removed during renovation; however, one restored dryer is prominently displayed in the lobby, and two original dryer drums were creatively repurposed as custom light fixtures. Through these interventions, The Laundry bridges its industrial past with a vibrant new role in Columbia’s evolving urban landscape.

Find out more about this property here:

https://www.thelaundryatbullstreet.com/