120 St. Philip St.
On Friday, Feb. 27, the Preservation Society of Charleston hosted the 72nd Carolopolis Awards, presented by Carriage Properties. The organization recognized 29 projects across the region.
“This year’s Carolopolis-winning project teams tell us a lot about the health of the preservation movement in Charleston in 2026. In celebrating buildings brought back from the brink, we are witnessing a resurgence of trades education and a renewed respect for the craft traditions that built this city,” said Brian Turner, president and CEO of the Preservation Society.
Carolopolis plaques are awarded annually by the Preservation Society, an independent nonprofit membership organization founded in 1920. Award categories include exterior, interior, new construction and resilience. The organization also presents a Pro Merito designation to previous Carolopolis award recipients that have undergone a second exterior rehabilitation or restoration.
This year’s projects span downtown Charleston, West Ashley, Sullivan’s Island, Edisto Island and, for the first time, Park Circle.
“The geographic range of these projects reflects a cultural shift across the Lowcountry,” Turner said. “More than ever, people throughout the Charleston region are seeing themselves as caretakers of a shared heritage. That is perhaps the most meaningful achievement of all.”
The awards were presented Feb. 27 before a sold-out crowd at The Grand at 81 Mary.
About the Carolopolis Award
The Carolopolis Award was created in 1953 to recognize outstanding achievement in historic preservation. The award honors extraordinary private and public efforts to maintain the historic character and authenticity of Charleston and the Lowcountry. To date, the Preservation Society has presented more than 1,500 awards. In 2016, the organization introduced awards recognizing preservation of historic interiors and compatible new construction, and in 2022 it expanded the program with the first Resilience Carolopolis Award.
High-resolution photographs of the winning projects are available via Dropbox. Photo credit: Courtesy of the Preservation Society of Charleston.
FULL LIST OF CAROLOPOLIS AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS RECOGNIZED:
Exterior Awards
- 76 Cannon St.
- 23 Coming St.
- 17 Thomas St.
- 40 South St.
- 95 Logan St.
- 7 Percy St.
- 91 Hasell St.
- 698 Rutledge Ave.
- 2524 Middle St.
- 34 Percy St.
- 120 St. Philip St.
- 217 Congress St.
- 4620 O’Hear Ave.
- 60 Meeting St.
Pro Merito Awards
- 37 State St.
- 129 Broad St.
- 207 Calhoun St.
- 84 Broad St.
- 8 South Battery St.
- 178 Ashley Ave.
New Construction Awards
- 651 King St.
- 89 Cannon St.
- 74 Radcliffe St.
- 1362 Old Towne Rd.
- 67 Anson St.
- 5 Rose Lane
Resilience Awards
- 4 Gibbes St.
- 1109 Middle St.
Interior and Exterior Award
- Hutchinson House
Note: The Carolopolis Awards recognized 29 projects with a total of 30 awards, since one winner earned an award for two categories.
ABOUT THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY:
Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) is the oldest grassroots preservation organization in the nation. The PSC is more resilient than ever as it enters its second century of recognizing, protecting, and advocating for the Lowcountry’s historic places, while serving as a strong advocacy leader for citizens concerned about preserving Charleston’s distinctive character, quality of life, and diverse neighborhoods. For more information on the Preservation Society of Charleston, please visit preservationsociety.org.