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Case History
Bringing the Past to Light
In renovating its new headquarters, Historic Charleston Fountation
opens its doors and archives to the public.
Since its earliest
days, His- toric Charleston Foundation (HCF) has been a national
pacesetter in its effort to preserve the historic buildings, neighborhoods
and landmarks that make Charleston, SC, a unique American city.
Since its founding, HCF has been an active voice at City and County
Council meetings, the Board of Architectural Review, and zoning
hearings, helping to preserve historic structures and plan wisely
for Charleston’s future. The Foundation also has a national
reputation as the originator of the Revolving Fund, a community
revitalization plan that protects the historic architecture of entire
neighborhoods.
One of its recent achievements has been the renovation of the Missroon
House at 40 East Bay St. that now serves as the Foundation’s
headquarters. The reopening of the Missroon House has allowed HCF
to make its archives and preservation materials more readily available
to scholars and the public for the first time.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WINDOWS
The renovation of Missroon House has also preserved an important,
but long neglected, building that is a prominent site on the historic
Charleston Battery. In addition to serving as headquarters for HCF,
the renovated building features an archives collection room, technical
library and technologically equipped meeting spaces that are accessible
to professionals, students and property owners interested in renovating
historic houses.
One of the most interesting aspects of the renovation is that the
original Charleston single house is now easily distinguishable within
the context of the newer building that was wrapped around it in
the 1920s. One is able to discern the original house by its exposed
brick façade and original window replacements. This also
presented a unique design challenge for the architect in charge
of the Missroon House renovation.
Architect Ernest E. Fava, Jr., of the Charleston, N.C.-based e.e.
fava architects, etc., paid careful attention to window treatments
in the historic space to meet HCF’s special requirements for
light control, privacy, UV-ray protection and style. “The goal
was to provide the nationally recognized Foundation with a clean,
functional, well-designed product for light control,” said
Fava.
Hunter Douglas’ Remembrance shades in Sheerweave were appropriately
selected because they “met the functional requirements with
an understated elegance that did not compete with the design features
of the renovated historic building.” Additionally, the semi-sheer,
vinyl-coated fiberglass and polyester screen product has an openness
factor of five percent, which allows for a soft, diffused view,
moderate privacy and, most importantly for an institution dedicated
to preservation, protection against 95 percent of the sun’s
harsh ultraviolet rays.
| MISSROON HOUSE RENOVATION |
| Project: Historic Charleston Foundation headquarters,
Charleston, SC. |
| Architect: e.e. fava architects and Dufford Young
Architects, LLC., Charleston, SC |
| Product: Hunter Douglas Remembrance window shades in
Sheerweave 2000 fabric. |
| Window Treatment Supplier: Ging & Co. Window Coverings,
Charleston, SC |
PRESERVING MORE THAN A BUILDING
Locating HCF headquarters at the Missroon House essentially saved
this historic building from other uses that may not have been as
desirable in such a high-profile, sensitive location. In addition,
the Foundation’s locating there preserved very valuable public
open space on Charleston Harbor’s waterfront that might otherwise
have been blocked by development.
From its waterfront location overlooking Charleston Harbor, the
Missroon House has born the brunt of the best and worst of Charleston’s
history during the past 200 years, including a front-row seat for
the bombardment of Fort Sumter during the Civil War, numerous hurricanes,
fires, floods and the largest earthquake ever recorded on the East
Coast.
Built by Capt. James Missroon in 1808, the Missroon House began
as a simple Charleston single house on the waterfront before undergoing
a series of expansions and renovations. In the early part of the
20th century it served as a boarding house before being heavily
damaged in the hurricane of 1911. It stood abandoned until it was
purchased and again renovated by the Omar Shriners Masonic Order
in 1925. The Foundation acquired the property in the fall of 1996.
Now, thanks to careful renovation and thoughtful design, the Missroon
House will continue to serve as a monument to Charleston’s
past, as well as for the betterment of its future.
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