Past Events
2021 South Carolina Fall Social Events
Join us for any or all of three afternoon/evening FREE rolling social events through South Carolina!
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
McMillan Pazdan Smith
121 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Craig Gaulden Davis
19 Washington Park
Greenville, SC 29601
Thursday, November 11, 2021
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Hood Construction Company
1215 Shop Road
Columbia, SC 29201
The events are free but you must register!
Hosts
Fall Tour
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Anderson Institute of Technology
315 Pearman Dairy Road
Anderson, SC 29625
Registration for attendees is FREE, but you must register!
Members and Non-Members: FREE
Sponsorship (includes free registration): $250
Program |
9:00 – 10:00 am |
Registration & Breakfast
Sponsored by: HG Reynolds Company, Inc.
|
10:00 – 10:15 am |
Welcome
Mr. Wess Grant, President of the SC Chapter of A4LE
Pledge of Allegiance
|
10:15 – 11:00 am |
Anderson Institute of Technology
Presenters: Mr. Tom Wilson, Superintendent of Anderson School, District Five
Dr. Bob Couch, Executive Director of AIT
|
11:00 – 11:15 am |
Break |
11:15 am – 1:00 pm |
Overview of School Design and Tour of School Facility
Presenters: Mr. Michael Chewning, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture; Mr. Leland Reynolds, H. G. Reynolds Company, Inc.; Mr. Wess Grant, Assistant Superintendent for Anderson School, District Five
2.0 LU
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the process of community collaboration to establish the programming requirements to serve the local industry partners.
- Examination of the program requirements associated with the different career clusters in the curriculum and how they are incorporated into the design.
- Provide an understanding of the differences between a CATE center and a traditional educational facility.
- Review the specialty systems and equipment incorporated into the design.
|
1:15 – 2:00 pm |
Lunch
Sponsored by: McMillan/Pazdan/Smith Architecture
|
2:00 – 2:15 pm |
Business Meeting |
2:15 pm |
Adjourn |
Thank You to our Sponsors!
Fall Tour
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Friends of A4LE,
It was good to have you with us yesterday at Rudolph G. Gordon Elementary for the SC Chapter Fall Tour. Special thanks go to superintendent Dr. Burke Royster, staff of Greenville Co. schools, principal Ms. Jackie Parker and our twin school ambassadors Ashley and Kaleigh who helped us with the tour and their perspective of "school life". Thanks also to Kahn Construction, Contract Construction and McMillan Pazdan Smith for being our sponsors for the day. The networking with each other was engaging and central to our mission of school design, use of space and build. The site tour and manufacturing theme of the school that will be integrated with the NEW Fountain Inn High School adds to preparing all students to be college and career ready.
We hope we can call on you to be key participators at our spring conference in Charleston on March 17-20, 2019. Look for coming news on the A4LE website.
Best to you and your family this Thanksgiving.
Tom Siler, Chapter President
Rudolph Gordon Elementary School
Greenville County Schools
1507 Scuffletown Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681

Learning session and school tour of Rudolph G. Gordon Elementary School, followed by lunch.
Greenville County Schools decided to convert Rudolph Gordon Elementary
School to a K-8 facility and dramatically expand capacity to 1,600 students,
an increase of 750 seats. Partnering closely with McMillan Pazdan Smith on
the project, the district organized the design intent around their academic
program and curriculum — a project-based learning environment with
emphasis on teamwork, group projects, and career-focused technology.
Read more »
2.5 LU Credits
Members and Non-Members: FREE
Sponsorship: $250
Program |
9:00 – 10:00 am |
Registration & Breakfast
Sponsored by: M.B. Kahn Construction
|
10:00 – 10:15 am |
Welcome & Introduction of A4LE
Welcome by Dr. Tom Siler, President of the SC Chapter of A4LE
Pledge of Allegiance
|
10:15 – 10:30 am |
Update on South Carolina Chapter Business
Reports
from attendees at the LearningSCAPES2018 Conference in Chicago and update on the 2019 Spring Conference
|
10:30 – 11:00 am |
Most Likely To Succeed Video Documentary
(15 minute clip) explores new approaches to learning and how your work supports the Education Community
|
11:00 – 11:20 am |
Break |
11:20 am – 1:00 pm |
Overview of School Design and Tour of School Facility
Presenters: Mr. Michael Chewning, Ms. Paulette Myers, McMillan/Pazdan/Smith Architecture and Mr. Terry Mills, Director of Construction for Greenville Co.
2.5 LU
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the effectiveness of dividing learning spaces into pods that have equal easy access to labs.
- Observe how the use of outdoor learning spaces is successfully impacting student learning outcomes.
- Learn about the challenges of incorporating large manufacturing equipment into a school setting where safety concerns are emphasized.
- Observe how the new additions were integrated with the existing facilities
|
1:15 – 2:00 pm |
Lunch
Sponsored by: McMillan/Pazdan/Smith Architecture and Contract Construction
|
2:00 pm |
Meeting Adjourned |
Thank You to our Sponsors!
Fall Meeting
Thursday, December 7, 2017
9:30am – 1:30pm
Jackson Creek Elementary School
7150 Trenholm Road Extension
Columbia, South Carolina 29223
1.5 HSW
Members and Non-Members: FREE
Lunch will be included

Please join us for a tour of Jackson Creek Elementary School, an innovative K-5 school grounded in a Growth Mindset, meaning that all children have strengths and can learn to build on these strengths.
This school, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s style and stained glass windows, highlights the colored flags of the International Boulevard area where the school is sited. Designed for flexibility, 21st century learning and collaboration, this elementary school’s unique design features grade levels grouped in “neighborhoods” where a central “learning hub” area is shared by a group of 5 to 6 classrooms.
“This is an innovative space – we are the Jackson Creek Investigators. The school is designed for children to investigate and collaborate. This is an important part of our school because this is an essential quality in 21st century learning and the expectations of the SC graduates.” – Principal Sabina Mosso-Taylor
Program |
9:30 am |
Registration and Welcome |
10:00am – 11:30am |
Jackson Creek Elementary School Tour |
11:30am – 12:30pm |
Lunch |
12:30pm – 1:30pm |
South Carolina Board Meeting |
Learning Objectives
- Observe how a LED lit fireplace in the library improves the sense of wellbeing of the young students and encourages to read and learn
- Observe how an open-air art classroom helps maintain excellent air quality for the occupants while stimulating their creativity
- Observe how the FLW inspired exterior helps the facility blend in with the environment
- Observe the solutions adopted to accommodate and enrich special need children
South Carolina Chapter Fall Conference
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
10:00am – 1:30pm
Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2) – Endless Possibilities
763 Fashion Drive,
Columbia, SC 29229
3.5 AIA/CES LU
Download the 2016 AIA/CES Program Completion Form
Richland School District Two in northeast Richland County, South Carolina is home to the brand new Richland Two Institute of Innovation, or more commonly called R2i2. Richland Two has always been a leader in innovation and ahead of the curve in South Carolina when it comes to learning opportunities for students.
Designed by LS3P, and built by MB Kahn Construction Co. Inc. R2i2 is not your traditional school or career center. R2i2 is much more – inspiring innovation and critical thinking. Providing students access to course work that is not offered anywhere else in the district, the two-story student learning center is one of five unique components that comprise R2i2. Designed around current economic needs in the Midlands such as NextEnergy and Supply Chain Logistics, R2i2 utilizes innovative teaching and learning practices – indeed, R2i2 transforms education.
The R2i2 Central Community Space is truly making a difference. The Richland Two Convention and Conference Center is housed at R2i2, affording the only conference center in northeast Columbia. The center can host conferences, meetings, shows, or even weddings. Additionally, partnering with the Richland Library, the district built a 35,000 sq. ft. library and auditorium as part of R2i2.
The district administrative offices have also found a new home at R2i2. Consolidating staff in the three story 40,000 sq. ft. building, the offices offer a district board room, small meeting spaces, spaces for community services, as well as a commercial kitchen and dining area.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about design concepts that best support different approaches to learning and new curricula.
- Observe the design solutions that are conducive to cooperative learning.
- Learn about the planning process that was the foundation of the project.
- Understand how the new ways and objectives in education require new concepts in school design.
Members & Non-Members: FREE
Lunch graciously sponsored by:
Address and Directions
763 Fashion Drive
Columbia, SC 29229
From Downtown Columbia
Take I-20 east toward Florence. Take Exit 80, Clemson Road. Turn left off the exit. Go 4.0 miles and turn left onto Marketplace Commons at the Village at Sandills. (second entrance). Go 0.5 miles and R2i2 is on your right. You may park anywhere in front of building.
From Greenville/Spartanburg
Take I-26 towards Columbia. When entering Columbia, Take I-20 east toward Florence. Take Exit 80, Clemson Road. Turn left off the exit. Go 4.0 miles and turn left onto Marketplace Commons at the Village at Sandills. (second entrance). Go 0.5 miles and R2i2 is on your right. You may park anywhere in front of building.
From Charleston
Take I-26 towards Columbia. Take I-77 North to Charlotte. Take I-20 east toward Florence. Take Exit 80, Clemson Road. Turn left off the exit. Go 4.0 miles and turn left onto Marketplace Commons at the Village at Sandills. (second entrance). Go 0.5 miles and R2i2 is on your right. You may park anywhere in front of building.
From Myrtle Beach/Florence
Take I-20 west towards Columbia. Take exit 80, Clemson Road. Turn right off of exit. Go 3.7 miles turn left onto Marketplace Commons at the Village at Sandills. (second entrance). Go 0.5 miles and R2i2 is on your right. You may park anywhere in front of building.