What differentiates your business from other specialists in the field?

Our firm’s reputation for responsiveness sets us apart in a crowded field of great designers. Our state and our city boast many talented design teams, but ours is the most fun to work with. We pride ourselves on our ability to make even the most mundane parts of a design project enjoyable for everyone involved. Our firm’s depth of experience in historic preservation also distinguishes us — we have been involved in many of Columbia’s landmark projects, including revitalization of Olympia and Granby Mills, 701 Whaley, Mast General Store, City Market, Palmetto Compress, and 1649 Main Street. Historic projects present unique challenges, but we love the opportunities they provide to do really impactful and creative design work.

What do you like best about your line of work?

I love that our work enables us to truly shape the experiences of our clients and our community. Architecture and design allow us to help people find elegant but functional solutions to common but often very complex problems. We are grateful to have worked with people who care deeply about their communities and are invested in creating spaces that improve the lives of others. It’s a great privilege to be part of our clients’ stories, helping them bring their visions to life and achieve their goals.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about your business?

People are often surprised to learn that we are a firm of just 19 people. Our talented team is comprised of very dedicated designers, which has enabled us to produce a body of work typical of a much larger firm. Our community involvement is also outsized relative to the size of our team: Garvin Design Group folks are in more than 30 different community service organizations. This past year we were honored with American Institute of Architects — South Carolina’s Firm Award for our contributions to the community and the profession.