Columbia, South Carolina’s capital, is named after Christopher Columbus. It is located in Richland County and is considered one of the most ideal places to live in the United States. It is a popular tourist destination, easily recognized by its iconically tiny and readily navigated streets. Columbia has several beautiful parks, historic districts, world-class museums, and access to plenty of thrilling outdoor activities. It is also home to several businesses with global, continental, or national reach.
If you’re looking to build a house in the city, the below list includes some of the best residential architects in Columbia, South Carolina. Our editorial team selected them for their recognitions, affiliations, and background. Each firm has what it takes to turn your dream home into a reality.
Studio 2LR | Architecture + Interiors
2428 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Studio 2LR, situated in Columbia, South Carolina, is a full-service architecture and interior design firm. The firm is made up of talented and diverse experts united by a passion for modern design. The firm emphasizes sustainable modern architecture that has shaped the community it serves for the better.
Weslyles, who created Studio 2LR in 2005 with Gretchen Lambert and Tripp Riley, is the company’s president. Wes acquired his architectural and master’s degrees from Clemson University.
Various groups have lauded and honored Studio 2LR throughout the years. It has received the 2020 Citation Award from AIA, the 2019 Adaptive Reuse Honor Award from AIA, and the 2018 Historic Preservation Award For Adaptive Use. Likewise, it holds memberships with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).
Jeff Lewis AIA – Architect
561 Jacobs Mill Pond Road, Elgin, SC 29045
Based in Columbia, Jeff Lewis AIA-Architect is a full-service architectural firm that offers office, residential, commercial, and retail architectural design, planning, and construction review services. It has extensive expertise with new construction, expansions, and renovations.
Jeff Lewis is the founder and principal of Jeff Lewis AIA-Architect, established in 2009. He has been an architect for 32 years and has designed and created construction papers for various firms’ industrial and commercial structures. Jeff graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in architecture. He is renowned as a respected architect who strives to develop outstanding designs within budget constraints.
Jeff Lewis AIA-Architect has won the 2019 Historic Preservation Award and it is the 2013 Preservation and Restoration Award Winner from the Historic Columbia Foundation. The firm also won the Historic Columbia Preservation and Restoration Award for its work on J. Davis Powell House. It also received 4 Best of Houzz Service Awards in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Timothy Hance, Architect, PA
1314 Lincoln Street, Suite 212, Columbia, SC 29201
Timothy Hance, Architect, P.A. is a small architectural firm specializing in residential design for new custom homes and renovations to existing homes located throughout South Carolina. The firm is a multi-discipline firm offering primarily residential architectural design and selected commercial design projects.
Tim Hance, AIA, is the firm’s president and founder. He grew up in a tiny southern town and decided at an early age that he wanted to be an architect since he had a fascination for building. Tim worked for Stevens and Wilkinson, Inc., one of the top architectural firms in the southeast, after graduating from Clemson University in 1984. Since 1994, J. Timothy Hance, Architect, P.A., has continued to offer traditional architectural design. The firm’s work gained the attention of the press and it has been featured by Columbia Metropolitan Magazine and Columbia Living Magazine.
Davis Architecture, Inc.
1328 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Davis Architecture, Inc. is built to provide services to commercial and residential clients and design-build contractors hoping to collaborate with an architectural firm. Offering architectural services for all phases of various religious projects is one of the firm’s most essential services. It can also help with exterior and interior improvements of a range of sizes.
Davis Architecture, Inc.’s staff strives to give each client a level of service that is personalized to their needs, whether they are custom clients or design-build contractors. Under the supervision of Matthew Davis, the company’s 20 years of expertise with the construction process allows it to keep its eyes on the end goal even as each part is added to the structure.
Michael Haigler | Architect
1529 Elm Abode Ter, Columbia, SC 29210
Michael Haigler Architect offers an extensive range of architectural services for various project types, from schematic design to construction management. Since graduating from Clemson with an undergraduate degree in Architecture and a Master’s Degree from UC Berkeley in California, its namesake has worked in architectural design for more than 35 years.
Michael’s current specialization is bespoke residential design, including remodels and new construction. He is now licensed in South and North Carolina and takes pride in being able to recommend novel solutions to problems and concerns. The business has also produced several retail designs in the past. Michael worked on over 200 retail shops around the country while in California, and he has had the chance to collaborate with the Gap. He has also taught at San Francisco’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Michael is pleased to consult with store owners and merchants on new concepts or the growth of current store designs, including store layout, lighting, signage, security, and visual merchandising.
