cultivating relationships
BOUDREAUX Named 2026 AIA SC AIA Firm Award Recipient
BOUDREAUX is honored to announce that the firm has received the 2026 Firm Award from the South Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA South Carolina), the organization’s highest recognition for an architecture practice. The award honors a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture while making a lasting contribution to the profession and the communities it serves.
The recognition comes as BOUDREAUX begins the celebration of its 50th anniversary – marking five decades of living its mission to cultivate relationships, design inspiring places, and enrich communities across the Southeast.
Founded in Columbia in 1976, BOUDREAUX has grown from a small local practice into a multi-disciplinary architecture, planning, interior design, and historic preservation firm with studios in Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. Throughout its history, the firm has remained deeply rooted in the belief that architecture is ultimately about people – the students collaborating on their campuses, the faithful gathering in the sacred spaces, the citizens influencing local government, and the teams thriving in their workplaces.
“Of all the recognitions our firm has received over the years, this is among the most meaningful because it reflects the totality of who we are – not one project, one moment, or one individual, but decades of delivering meaningful work with humility, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to quality,” said Heather Mitchell, AIA, President of BOUDREAUX. “To be recognized by our peers in this way is an honor. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of our story.”
Today, BOUDREAUX continues its impact as part of the design team shaping Columbia’s Congaree Riverfront District, a transformative civic project strengthening the city’s connection to the river. They are advancing major higher education projects, including the University of South Carolina’s new Health Sciences Campus, two Clemson University residence halls, and the University of North Carolina Charlotte’s Loy Witherspoon Center for Meditation and Reflection.
While BOUDREAUX has received numerous design, planning, preservation, and sustainability awards over its history, the AIA South Carolina Firm Award recognizes something broader: a sustained culture of design excellence, mentorship, leadership, collaboration, and service to the profession.
BOUDREAUX’s Legacy
Founded in 1976, BOUDREAUX has evolved from a small Columbia practice into a firm recognized for architecture, planning, interior design, and historic preservation throughout the Southeast. While the firm has grown in scale and expertise over five decades, it has remained intentionally focused on the strengths of a collaborative studio culture – combining personal relationships, thoughtful design, and strategic leadership to create a lasting impact on the communities and institutions it serves.
Throughout that growth, one thing has remained constant: our belief that meaningful design begins with strong relationships. Whether partnering with a university for decades, helping a small town reimagine its future, preserving a historic landmark, or designing spaces that bring people together, our work is rooted in listening, collaboration, stewardship, and service.
By the Numbers
- 50 years serving communities across South Carolina and the Southeast
- 245+ projects completed across University of South Carolina campuses
- 25+ years partnering with Clemson University
- 3 of the largest SC State Capital Projects: USC Campus Village; Clemson University Douthit Hills Student Community; and USC Health Sciences Campus
- 100+ awards for work spanning architecture, planning, interiors, and preservation
- 15+ LEED and Green Globes certified projects advancing sustainable design
Designing Places That Matter
Some of the places that have shaped our journey include:
Clemson University Douthit Hills Student Community
A transformative student living and learning environment that redefined a major campus gateway and created a vibrant residential district centered on student life, wellness, and connection.
University of South Carolina Campus Village
One of the largest student housing developments in South Carolina history, designed to strengthen campus connectivity while fostering community and belonging for future generations of students.
Richland Library Main
A nationally recognized reinvention of the modern public library, designed to create welcoming, flexible community-centered spaces that inspire learning, gathering, and creativity.
Samuel J. Cadden Chapel at Clemson University
An internationally recognized chapel and place of reflection that demonstrates the power of architecture to create moments of serenity, meaning, and connection to nature.
Historic Preservation & Community Revitalization
From Hotel Trundle and Taylor House to downtown master plans and adaptive reuse projects across the state, BOUDREAUX continues to help communities preserve their stories while planning thoughtfully for the future.
Investing in People
At BOUDREAUX, we believe great design is created by empowered people working together. Our culture is grounded in mentorship, curiosity, collaboration, and continual growth.
Through studio-wide design critiques, professional development retreats, mentorship programs, and leadership development initiatives, we invest deeply in the next generation of architects and designers. As the firm transitions into its third generation of leadership, we remain committed to fostering a collaborative culture where every voice contributes to shaping both our projects and our future.
Our commitment extends beyond design work through leadership and service within professional organizations, universities, preservation efforts, and communities across South Carolina.
Looking Ahead
Receiving the 2026 AIA South Carolina Firm Award during our 50th anniversary year is both an honor and a reflection of the many people, clients, collaborators, and communities who have shaped BOUDREAUX over the past five decades.
As we look ahead, we remain inspired by the opportunity to continue designing places that strengthen communities, elevate everyday experiences, and enrich the places we call home for generations to come.
About BOUDREAUX
BOUDREAUX is an architecture, planning, interior design, and historic preservation firm with studios in Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1976, the firm serves clients across the Southeast with a focus on higher education, civic, faith-based, workplace, and community-centered design. Through collaborative partnerships and thoughtful design, BOUDREAUX creates places that strengthen communities and elevate human experience.
