ACE Program focuses on Architecture, Construction Management and Structural Engineering

Students from St. Johns High School recently took a tour of a live historic renovation project located at 1 Broad Street in downtown Charleston.Mr. Darwin Shorters and his students interacted with the Project Manager and the HVAC Engineer in addition to other contract workers on site.

Students were lucky enough to meet the Project Owner who happen to stop by the project. The students enjoyed learning about the history of the building and all the pros and cons to working on a renovation project of a historical building as opposed to work on a completely new build project. The history lesson included a story about the hole in the flooring on the second floor along with some charring of wood beams resulting from a cannon ball during one of the many siege events on the peninsula of Charleston.

The renovation project  included removing a vault from the building that previously housed a bank. The students also explored a very unique hand craft roof system from the 1800’s.

Lastly, the students were able to have a little design time on their own project plan with the ACE mentors,  and left with a new project of their own.  In the next 3 weeks the students will sketch (architecture), develop construction timelines and budget (construction management), as well as complete the load calculation (structure engineering) for a Mobile Survival Shelter to help the homeless.
The presentation of this project will be given during the Annual Banquet May 17 at the Woolfe St. Playhouse 6:00 PM with Mayor Tecklenburg as the keynote speaker.