Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Clemson, South Carolina is considered one of the Southeast region’s most charming locations in which to live, play and learn. The downtown area and adjacent Clemson University campus flow seamlessly together, with a symbiotic relationship shaped by history, culture and enterprise. The locality offers a broad range of experiences from nationally ranked Tigers sports events, South Carolina Botanical Garden tours, boutique shopping, mountain getaways, and water adventure on the vast expanse of nearby Lake Hartwell.
In 2017, decision-makers from the city’s St. Andrew Catholic Church spearheaded a campaign to expand the church’s capacity by replacing the existing structure with a brand-new house of worship. Father Dan McLellan acknowledged that it would have been simpler to relocate to a larger parcel on the outskirts of town, yet he and his advisory team agreed that the new campus should remain within the same downtown Clemson footprint where parishioners—both locals and students—could easily access it.
A team from McMillan/Pazdan/Smith Architecture, a Southeastern design firm with more than 65 years of experience, was chosen to design both the new church and adjacent parish center. Project Architect, Mike Goll, a 17-year veteran, headed up the endeavor and was already a well-known and respected figure in Clemson circles having designed numerous campus buildings and several churches in the region.
Goll notes, “The design of the church is always directed and guided by the priest who oversees that specific parish. Along with a small lay committee, Father McLellan steered decisions about how the worship space should function. From the beginning, complementing the historic chapel was a central guiding principle for the design of both new structures.”
The stone chapel was constructed in 1935 and has remained an iconic landmark for the historic downtown. To maintain a visual tie to the traditional masonry, Goll and his team researched composite stone materials. With the help of Tod Cox, Architectural Masonry Consultant for Adams, an Oldcastle APG company, Goll discovered Echelon Waterford Stone and used it for both exterior and interior elements of the design.
“It was the first time I had used the product, and it worked out so well,” Goll explains. “It became the design impetus for both the church and the parishioner center. The full-bed units worked structurally with the traditional brick and made a nice base for both buildings as well as a façade accent.”
Waterford Stone masonry veneers are designed to evoke the natural, time-honed look of hand-cut stone with antiqued edges and a textured face while featuring the modern benefits of manufactured masonry. This composite masonry product provides a water repellant, mold resistant, low-maintenance exterior for the humid Southeastern climate. Along with its modular acoustical flexibility, the various sizes and range of color options provided the design flexibility needed for the St. Andrew project.
With the design team working within constraints of the existing site, limited space was an ongoing challenge, so they configured the new church, the parking spaces, and the parish center with maximum flow and efficiency in mind. Goll reflects on some of the design details that went into the multi-phased project.
“We were able to bring exterior elements of the design inside by using the same
Waterford Avondale color in 1 5/8” thin veneer for the large feature wall and vestibule,” the architect explains. “The angled arrangement of the pews not only allowed for maximum seating occupancy to be achieved but also provided optimal viewing angles to the Altar. As for the windows, we provided a blank canvas. Guided by Father McLellan, some talented local stained-glass artists created the beautiful images.”
To execute the design goals, Hogan Construction Group served as the general contractor for the multi-phased project. The firm has built a solid reputation in Upstate South Carolina through its Greenville-based team, who maintain strong ties to the Clemson campus and community.
Project Manager Ashley Davis remarks, “With both the church and parish hall, it was a major reorganizing of the St. Andrew campus. Apart from the historic chapel and a few nearby special-purpose houses, the rest of the facility was torn down and reconfigured to maximize occupancy. The Waterford looks great and really works visually with the traditional brick. On the church interior, Echelon provided switch and outlet boxes that are available for this masonry product.”
Spartanburg-based Helms and Company completed the installation of the Waterford Stone and other masonry materials. The crews gave positive feedback about the flexibility of working with the modular, full-bed exterior units as well as the thinner veneer pieces for the interior.
Owner Noel Helms comments, “It is just a wonderful product. We have used it on other jobs, and I am always glad to see it chosen for these big projects. The crews love the easy installation with little waste, and we look forward to using it again.”
The completion of the church phase of the project was a tremendous boost to the St. Andrew community after attending mass in temporary settings during the lengthy construction process.
“When the new church opened its doors, the parish community and surrounding neighbors were thrilled with the long-anticipated outcome,” Goll recalls. “There was a sense of celebration.”
One of the most appealing aspects of the design can be appreciated upon entering the vestibule located at the rear of the church. The doorway opens into the center aisle, which creates a visual pathway to the breathtaking altar, where a focal point suspended wooden crucifix is bracketed by two Waterford Stone paneled walls. Depending on the changing light, the exquisite stained-glass windows filter an array of shifting colors onto the altar.
Father McLellan notes, “We're quite pleased with everything! Parishioners—enormously generous in financing the project—are delighted, and we have noticed an uptick in the number of congregants, especially from the Clemson University student body.”
The overall aesthetic of the St. Andrew campus both complements and enhances downtown Clemson with the beloved original chapel maintaining a connection to St. Andrew’s origins.
