Garvin Design Group

10/14/2026

Happy birthday to our interior designer, Drew! We hope you feel celebrated today and every day!

10/13/2026

A grand new chapter is just beginning.

This morning we joined Homeless No More for a special groundbreaking ceremony for Grand Village, an exciting new affordable housing community at the corner of Beltline Boulevard and Two Notch Road in Columbia. The Grand Village project will transform the site of the former Grand Motel into a vibrant residential community featuring 30 apartments and the Christopher Community Center, named in memory of the late Jim Christopher, a dedicated champion of Homeless No More's mission.

The development combines four new residential buildings with the rehabilitation of two existing motel buildings, bringing new life to a long-blighted property. Bold colors, contemporary architecture, and the restoration of the Grand Motel's iconic monumental sign will create a distinctive community that honors the site's history while embracing its future.

Congratulations to Homeless No More and all of its partners on this significant milestone. We're proud to be part of a project that demonstrates the power of thoughtful design to transform places, strengthen communities, and create new opportunities for Columbia residents.

Swipe through to see what's coming to Grand Village.

10/09/2026

10/05/2026

Happy birthday to our Marketing Director and Preservation Consultant, Meg! We are so grateful to have you as a part of the GDG family, and we hope you celebrate all week long!

09/30/2026

Today, we joined our project partners Hood Construction and Flad Architects at Coastal Carolina University for the groundbreaking of the Health and Human Performance Center!
 
This exciting event marks a major milestone for the project and for CCU. We can’t wait to see the impact this new facility will have on the campus and community for years to come.

09/30/2026

Happy second anniversary to our Office Manager, Kate! For the past two years, she’s been keeping our office running smoothly and supporting our team. We’re so grateful for all that Kate brings to the GDG family!

09/24/2026

Transformation of a midcentury dormitory at USC created a modern student living experience at Patterson Hall, featuring suite-style housing for 560 students, vibrant gathering spaces, classrooms, a computer lab, and student support areas. Key structural upgrades and sustainable design elements - including green roofs, louvers, and trellises – gave this old building new life while achieving LEED Gold Certification.

The Patterson Hall project won a Preservation Award from Historic Columbia and an Exemplary Project Award from the US Green Buildings Council – South Carolina chapter in 2013, and an AIA South Carolina COTE Honor Award in 2014. In the words of the 2014 AIA South Carolina awards jury: “it’s a building we’d hit the brakes for.”

09/23/2026

Happy birthday to our beloved colleague, Michael Caraballo! We hope your day is filled with plenty of celebration, and we’re so glad to have you as part of the GDG family. Cheers to another great year!

09/23/2026

A huge congratulations to our very own Scott Garvin, a 2026 SCBIZ Icon Honoree!

The SCBIZ Icon Honors program recognizes South Carolina leaders who have demonstrated notable success and strong leadership both within and beyond their chosen fields. Honorees’ careers reflect a commitment to building, leading, and giving back to their communities.

We’re incredibly proud to see Scott’s achievements recognized in this way, and we are grateful for everything he brings to our firm and our community. Congratulations, Scott!

09/21/2026

Located in Columbia’s West Gervais Street Historic District, the Columbia SC Visitors Center was designed to honor its historic surroundings while providing a welcoming, modern destination for visitors to the city.

From carefully selected brick that complements the surrounding historic buildings to the transparent “glass box” tucked beneath the historic Lincoln Street canopy, every detail was designed to respect the district's character while creating a distinctly contemporary experience.

The project earned Historic Columbia’s 2019 Preservation Award for New Construction in a Historic Context. Today, the Visitors Center serves as a welcoming starting point for exploring Columbia’s past, present, and future.