Architecture Studio in Columbia
Offering architecture, planning, and design across the Southeast region and beyond.
Hello from Columbia
Address
McMillan Pazdan Smith
412 Meeting StreetWest Columbia, SC 29169
(We are located in the historic Shull Block Building, circa 1909.)
Columbia Co-Studio Director
Joel Carter
AIA
Columbia Co-Studio Director
Contact JoelColumbia Co-Studio Director
Sanders Tate
AIA, NCARB
Columbia Co-Studio Director
Contact SandersParking
Parking is available on both sides of our building. The paved lot to the West is accessible from Meeting Street and the gravel lot to the East is accessible from State Street. The entrance to our building can be found through the wrought iron gate and up the stairs.
Columbia Culture
Shull Block Building
412 Meeting Street, West Columbia.
Historic Meeting Street, West Columbia, circa 1951.
412 Meeting Street, West Columbia.
Historic Meeting Street, West Columbia, circa 1951.
Our office is located in the historic “Shull Block Building,” developed by the Edward Shull family after the New Brookland fire of March 4, 1905. To prevent future disasters, the building was constructed with brick from the Guignard Brick Works — believed to be America’s oldest brickworks. The four downstairs units were originally business rentals, while the upstairs served as the Shull family residence.
The building has a unique connection to the local community firm Jumper Carter Sease Architects. Miss Rosalie Shull, daughter of Edward Shull, was a long-time librarian at Brookland Cayce High School. Notably, Brookland Cayce High School was one of the first educational commissions for architect Jesse W. Wessinger, the founder of Jumper Carter Sease Architects.
Throughout its life, the building has hosted a variety of businesses, including Whetzel’s Drug Store, a mercantile store, a kayaking shop, and Ed’s Editions. The upstairs residence originally served as a community center, hosting the town’s first movie theater, the SC militia / nee the SC National Guard, and ballroom dances in what is now repurposed as our design studio, “The Ball Room.”
JCS Architects, now McMillan Pazdan Smith, has a long-standing presence in the West Columbia community, establishing our current home at 412 Meeting Street in 1997. The building’s rich history and its deep ties to the community and our firm make it a truly special place to work.
OUR HISTORY
1929 : Jesse W. Wessinger, Founding Architect
1959-1970 : Wessinger & Drafts
1970-1991 : Drafts & Jumper Architects
1991-2025 : Jumper Carter Sease Architects
2025 : McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture