Eau Claire Lutheran Survey Building (Columbia, SC) Awards: - 1998 Preservation Award, Historic Columbia Foundation - 1999 South Carolina Honor Award, Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation) In 1914, this building housed the Lutheran Survey newspaper with its own printing facility in a separate building. In the 1930s, it became the Town Hall of the city of Eau Claire. But by the 1980s, even though it was listed on the National Historic Registry, the building had fallen to urban decay. The City of Columbia planned to tear the building down, until the residents of Eau Claire fought to save the last remaining symbol of their former identity. The city agreed, hiring CDA Architects to renovate the site. CDA worked with the SC Department of Archives and History to research the original windows, doors, decorative brick and mosaic tile, restoring each detail with accuracy. Our architect found the original manufacturer of the building's clay tile roof, had replacement tiles made, and integrated them seamlessly with the existing tiles. When there was no money in the budget to restore the original clocks in the tower, the community became involved again. They held fundraisers to pay for the clocks, which they got, along with their prized building, which today houses city offices and community meeting rooms that can also be rented for weddings and special events. BACK