Florence-Darlington Technical College, The Continuum
Created through a partnership among the Darla Moore Foundation, Florence-Darlington Technical College, and Francis Marion University, the Continuum expands access to education and workforce training in South Carolina’s Pee Dee region.
The facility serves high school, college, and continuing education students through programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, industrial maintenance, welding, HVAC, truck driving, and the sciences. Dual enrollment courses also connect students from partnering high schools with college-level learning and career pathways.
Adaptive Reuse Gives a Retail Building New Purpose
The project transformed a former big-box store near into a regional education center. Built in 1969 as one of the country’s earliest Walmart locations, the structure reflects an earlier chapter in the area’s economic development. Its adaptive reuse gives the building a new role in preparing the region’s next-generation workforce.
The design team selectively removed and rebuilt portions of the existing structure to introduce daylight, create intuitive circulation, and bring classrooms, computer and science labs, and technical training spaces together within one cohesive facility. Flexible furnishings throughout shared areas encourage interaction among students and faculty.
Mass Timber Creates a New Campus Landmark
A raised roof supported by large-scale glulam beams and wood decking brings natural light into the central corridor. Exposed mass timber and bolted connections reference the practical construction of agricultural and industrial buildings while transforming the former retail shell into a distinctive academic environment. Large windows and projecting glass boxes introduce additional daylight around the building’s perimeter.
The architecture draws inspiration from the Pee Dee region’s agricultural history. Deconstructed wood-slat barns influenced the site plan, exterior façade, and interior finishes. Shades of green inspired by tobacco, once a prominent regional crop, appear in furnishings, wayfinding, and murals. Brick, copper, and wood further connect the contemporary facility to the character and material traditions of the area.
Learn more:
- Three podcast series: The Continuum: Education Redefined
- Video describing the project’s inspiration and process
- CTE programs that are transforming education and communities
- IdeaXchange Podcast: How the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering Empowers Students for Future Careers
Awarded:
- AIA SC Design Awards, Honor Award for Adaptive Reuse
- IIDA Carolinas Chapter, DesignWorks Award for Education
- Woodworks, Wood Design Awards, Regional Excellence Award