Take a stroll around Columbia, and you’ll almost certainly see a space designed by Studio 2LR.
This local architecture and interior design firm has been shaping the look and feel of Soda City since 2005. It has grown from a modest rental space in the Vista to a Main Street office inside a repurposed automotive upholstery shop — complete with custom robot-shaped tanks that capture rainwater + help prevent flooding.
Now, 20 years later, Studio 2LR’s thoughtful, award-winning designs continue to make an impact throughout Columbia and the Midlands. Here are four standout projects you might recognize:
Savage Craft Ale Works
This West Columbia brewery is a mix of old and new. Two early 1900s buildings — a former fire station and jail — were transformed into a taproom, rooftop terrace, and a 5,000-sqft addition for a microbrewery. Fun fact: Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the New Brookland Historic District.
The Laundry at BullStreet
This 1883 two-story brick building was once the central laundry facility for the former SC State Hospital. Studio 2LR is restoring its original charm — including skylights and a central cupola — while breathing new life into it as a mixed-use space for events, restaurants, retail, and creative offices.
South Carolina Department of Education
Just outside Columbia, this facility brings the SCDE under one roof with flexible spaces for meeting rooms, events, and offices. The design maximizes natural light and features bright “school bus yellow” accents that add a fun pop of color.
Orangeburg County Library + Conference Center
What was once a Piggly Wiggly grocery store is now a 47,000-sqft community space. The design repurposes the original 20,000-sqft foundation, connecting a library, community spaces, and conference rooms through a terraced gallery.
