The South Carolina Research Authority’s Applied Technologies Center was developed to be a hallmark office structure within the community of Nexton in Summerville, S.C. Architectural guidelines for Nexton proved the most stringent ever encountered by the design-build team of Choate Construction and LS3P Associates, the team claims. Developers went so far as to build a to-scale model of the development, down to each of the trees. Following approvals from Nexton, the team had to receive approvals from the town of Summerville.

The approved design led to the creation of a three-story, 78,000-sq-ft, structural steel structure, which rests atop a geopier foundation with shallow concrete. The building is clad in an array of Old Savannah brick, Trespa architectural panels, aluminum composite materials and curtain wall glass. The building’s interiors include custom decorative Trespa panels, ceramic tile flooring and custom pendant lighting, along with an open ceiling structure. A monumental staircase accents the lobby, which is also adorned by a custom orchid sculpture.