CORAL GRESHAM

Bio:

The Great Designer, Coral Gresham, is a fervent client advocate. She understands how to address emerging trends that impact business strategy and provide comprehensive solutions that truly add value. With a passion for community outreach, Coral is invested in designing inclusive spaces that bridge the shared interest of both building owner and user. She offers a highly valued combination of hands-on experience, technical savvy, and professionalism that elevates a design team.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

My grandfather was a subcontractor, and I was exposed to construction early on. When I was in elementary school, my dad said after he retired from the Army we would build our dream house, so I would spend my days drawing my ideas on grid paper.

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What do you do?

I am a licensed architect with 15 years of experience in commercial architecture. I've held positions in the local chapter of National Association Women in Construction and am on the Career and Technology Advisory Committee of two school districts.

What excites you in the work you do?

I see the design process as a puzzle I need to solve; a program that needs to fit inside a site and meet certain requirements . In the end, a building can impact a community for years to come and I like being part of what makes that possible.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

I am driven by service and find inspiration in community outreach. My passion lies in engaging children, instilling excitement for the future, and fostering the next generation's interest in the AEC industry.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

Getting licensed. There's a lot that goes into licensure. After four years of undergraduate and two years of graduate school, I was not done. Hours of work experience and seven exams later, I was able to call myself an architect.

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Featured Project Name: 

State Credit Union Headquarters

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Featured Project Location: 

Columbia, SC

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Featured Project Completion Date: 

Nov. 2023

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Role in Featured Project: 

Architect

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Featured Project Description:

Guided by its mission to improve the financial lives of its members, the State Credit Union consolidated and expanded its Headquarters location in downtown Columbia. An existing one-story structure was demolished to make way for a prominent two-story central entry connecting the existing two-story branch/office space to a three-story addition. The existing building was re-skinned in brick to blend with the timeless design character of the addition.

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Photography Credit:

Oswald Design + Creative