COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – The South Carolina Historic Preservation Office recently presented Winthrop University with its 2025 Stewardship Award for the renovation of the university’s historic Byrnes Auditorium.
Accepting the award on June 18 at the State House from Governor Henry McMaster were James Grigg, Winthrop’s associate vice president for facilities management, and Chris Johnson ’99, sustainability coordinator.
Byrnes’ reopening this spring after several years of renovation was one of the university’s highlights. Grigg said the project architects and contractors were able to balance modern requirements with the building’s historical significance, ensuring the preservation of key architectural features while addressing practical challenges.
Built in 1939, Byrnes was among four campus buildings erected with Works Project Administration funds and state money at the direction of James F. Byrnes, then a U.S. senator. The auditorium exemplifies the monumental architectural style prevalent in Depression-era public buildings.
With an original seating of 3,500, the auditorium has hosted some of the world’s finest musicians and performing organizations over the years, as well as many university events. It also houses the David Bancroft Johnson Memorial Organ, which has more than 5,000 pipes in 78 ranks and is one of the largest and finest instruments in the South.
In 2016, Winthrop started to replace the roof and partially renovate the auditorium to improve accessibility, modernize facilities and to enhance the functionality of the auditorium. However, in 2018 during the roof renovation, a small fire on the roof allowed smoke and fire extinguisher material to scatter throughout the auditorium. Byrnes was closed pending resolution, a closure that lasted for several years during insurance mediation.
Work resumed in 2023 following a settlement and continued through the end of 2024. DP3 Architects served as the lead architect but expanded their work to include updating for code changes and marrying the original renovation scope with the additional fire remediation. Gilbane Building Company was brought in to handle the complex nature of the combined renovation and remediation in the historic building. The project’s success is due to both firms, and their supporting subcontractors’ outstanding effort and the outstanding teamwork of all the project participants on this unique project, Grigg said.
The original renovation and additional fire remediation project met the projects’ original aims to improve accessibility for all patrons, while enhancing the auditorium’s functionality to support the evolving needs of the university. The combined project allowed the auditorium plaster repair and repainting to showcase the original interior features that were hidden in the original paint schemes.
“Overall, the renovation of Byrnes Auditorium successfully revitalized a beloved historical landmark, ensuring that it continues to serve as a cultural beacon for Winthrop University for years to come,” Grigg said.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
