Columbia, S.C. (Feb. 10, 2022) — Avant Holdings, a South Carolina-based real estate development and investment company, announces its plans to restore the Laundry Building, the oldest surviving service building in the historic BullStreet District campus.

The 15,000-square-foot mixed-use building will feature space for future restaurants, retail and/or commercial offices. The building is anticipated to be available for tenants starting at the end of 2022.

“With the strong development pipeline at the BullStreet District, we feel the timing is perfect to move forward with this exciting adaptive reuse project,” says Todd Avant, managing partner of Avant Holdings. “Our hope is to welcome a mix of dynamic businesses to the Laundry Building, which could include a restaurant, retail shops, creative office or a brewery with a beer garden.”

Recent work to the Laundry Building includes a new standing seam metal roof skin, restoration of the historic clerestories, skylights, and the cupola. Avant Holdings has also refurbished the historic exterior stairwell and original steel sash windows, completed structural reinforcements, gently removed paint off the brick and granite windowsills as well as performed brick pointing throughout.

The design will feature an open layout respecting the historic character of the Laundry Building with soaring ceilings, exposed antique heart pine wood beams and trusses. The interior is exposed brick, including a massive brick archway with a mix of historic plaster walls and sleek concrete floors throughout. Existing steel sash windows and restored window openings will flood the space with natural light. The full one acre of land is mostly green space with trees offering endless possibilities for outdoor seating and amenities with the iconic Babcock Building as a focal backdrop.

Located in the heart of the thriving BullStreet District behind the Babcock’s dining halls, the Laundry Building is an Italianate-influenced building dating back to 1883. The Laundry is adjacent to other service buildings like the Bakery that was part of the hive of industry which operated in the background to help support the mental asylum.

Avant Holdings has worked closely with architect Studio 2LR during the restoration process. No stranger to the BullStreet District, Studio 2LR was the architect for the renovations to the historic Ensor and Parker Annex buildings.

The 181-acre BullStreet District is the largest urban redevelopment project on the East Coast and is South Carolina’s first urban gigabit community, just one mile from the S.C. State House in downtown Columbia, S.C.

For more information about leasing opportunities at the Laundry Building, email Todd Avant at tavant@avantholdings.com.