RESTORATION
Restoration projects bring the past to life, reanimating history for the aesthetic, educational, and functional benefit of residents and visitors alike. The Lowcountry is dotted with beautiful structures representing our textured cultural heritage. We apply skill, care, and innovation to ensure that these testaments to our region’s rich architectural story can be told today and long into the future.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the seat of the Bishop of Charleston and the mother church for Catholic parishioners in South Carolina. Construction on the striking brownstone Gothic church began in 1890 to replace an earlier structure, which was destroyed in the Great Charleston Fire of 1861. In keeping with the Gothic architectural tradition, the plans for the Cathedral called for a steeple – but the parish did not have sufficient funds to build it at the time.
Fast forward to the 21st century. The Diocese of Charleston retained Hightower Construction to conduct a major renovation of the city’s iconic cathedral. Hightower completely restored the exterior of the 27,000-square-foot building, which involved the meticulous examination of every stone, the skillful replacement of 2,500 pieces of stone, repointing 27 miles of joints, and the construction and placement of a bell tower and – after more than a century of waiting – a steeple. The Hightower team designed the steeple using an innovative combination of cold molding, epoxies, and frames, enabling the steeple to reach 85 feet – even higher than the Diocese’s expectations.
Today, the Cathedral stands tall at the corner of Broad and Legare Streets, with the structural integrity and full splendor intended by its designers more than 125 years ago.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
I can truly say that in my more than thirty years in the design and construction industry, I have never worked with a finer team than the one you assembled for this project, from your own employees and project team members to the various subcontractors...
– Bill Turner, City of Charleston Department of Parks
...The fact that this two-phased, nearly year-long project was completed virtually without complaint, and to the unanimous acclaim by all, is a testament to the quality of your work...
– Bill Turner, City of Charleston Department of Parks
...I hope that we will find ourselves working together on a future city project. Contractors like you make my job very easy.
– Bill Turner, City of Charleston Department of Parks
As in all restoration projects, there were unforeseen conditions that were uncovered. The Hightower team quickly responded and solved each of these. The quality of the restoration speaks for itself and has attracted national press attention.
– Lawrence O. Thompson, City Market Preservation Trust, LLC
The quality of what you accomplished, the workmanship, the craftsmanship, and dedication to completing a very difficult job is a testimony to Hightower Construction Company.
– Kenneth F. Palka, Charleston County
The formidable project that Hightower Construction and Charleston County jointly addressed so many years ago – one involving the major overhaul of no fewer than four important historic and government buildings at the corner of Meeting and Broad Streets – represented a challenge of tremendous proportion. But our combined teamwork has pulled it off with tremendous success...
– Roland H. Windham, Jr., Charleston County
...The community as a whole is fortunate to benefit from the professionalism and expertise of a company such as yours. Your record of competency, efficiency, and safety is first-class, and I feel sure that the County personnel who have worked alongside yours have felt privileged to do so while focusing on the common goal of revitalizing so many local buildings of historical significant. The heart of our city has never looked more beautiful, and posterity will be the richer for it.
– Roland H. Windham, Jr., Charleston County
Your team was meticulous, hard working, responsible, and safe...
– Matthew Dwyer, The Diocese of Charleston
...The challenges that are associated with this type of a project or numerous. However, Hightower Construction, working in coordination with will over 2 dozen different entities by my count, navigated one of the most historic and significant restoration projects that the diocese of Charleston and the Catholic Church in the United States has ever undertaken...
– Matthew Dwyer, The Diocese of Charleston
...Your service was outstanding and the manner in which you maximized the quality of work while balancing our need to keep our costs reasonable is a tribute to the special attention you gave this this project. The entire project cost considerably less than originally estimated, yet the quality of work surpassed our highest expectations...
– Matthew Dwyer, The Diocese of Charleston
...Oftentimes, the principals of a firm will leave the major tasks and “heavy lifting” up to the management team and supervisors. Not Hightower. I was impressed by how you and your executive staff were involved in every aspect of the project. Your presence was noted throughout...
– Matthew Dwyer, The Diocese of Charleston
...All the way down to the men and women working on the ground, the competence and attention to detail that your entire team showed was truly what made this project a success...
– Matthew Dwyer, The Diocese of Charleston
...I will highly recommend your firm to others. As a fundraising and development officer for the past 14 years, I’ve worked with many general contractors; none finer than Hightower Construction.
– Matthew Dwyer, The Diocese of Charleston
Our firm received a Merit Award from the South Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for this project. We would not have received this without the great team effort from you and your staff...
– Glenn F. Keyes, Glenn Keyes Architects
...The complexity of designing and building this steeple on top of a hundred-year-old structure that is on poor soil and in a hurricane zone cannot be understated...
– Glenn F. Keyes, Glenn Keyes Architects
...The creative thinking and problem solving by your team made this project a reality. In the early days of design, we were stumped by the severe limitations given us by the structural engineer. You and your team rose to the occasion to explore unconventional methods to solve the structural concerns...
– Glenn F. Keyes, Glenn Keyes Architects
...The end result speaks for itself. Hightower Construction was the perfect choice for this challenging project.
– Glenn F. Keyes, Glenn Keyes Architects
I was impressed by the lengths your team went to preserve not only the historic appearance of the exterior, but also the historic materials from which it was constructed. You found the proper mix of local and out-of-state craftspeople, contractors, and fabricators to ensure that the high quality of craftsmanship that went into building the cathedral over a hundred years ago was maintained throughout the entire restoration project.
– Ivan Myjer, Building and Monument Conservation
I recall…being on the interview team to select the contractor for this important project. It was a unanimous decision that the team of Hightower Construction Company be our builder...
– Joseph J. Keenan, Palmetto Commercial Properties, Inc.
...It is so satisfying and absolutely amazing that all of this work on the exterior of this 100-year-old building took place on schedule and without an accident. Additionally, working with 72 magnificent stained glass windows without having any incidents is just short of spectacular...
– Joseph J. Keenan, Palmetto Commercial Properties, Inc.
...The exterior…has never been better due to the extremely high quality of the work that your company did. It will be many generations in the future before any maintenance is required. Thank you for a job well done...
– Joseph J. Keenan, Palmetto Commercial Properties, Inc.
...The Hightower Team assembled to complete this project included stone masons, electricians, elevator companies, plumbers, iron workers and so many other trades, making this an extremely complex and unique once-in-a-lifetime project...
– Joseph J. Keenan, Palmetto Commercial Properties, Inc.
...I can’t thank you enough for the personal attention that you gave to this project and cannot commend to you more highly your excellent, professional staff. What a pleasure to work with all of these fine people. They made the task very enjoyable, and although hectic at times, never complained about the odd schedule required of a working church. The interruptions…required your staff to go above and beyond normal construction satisfaction limits; however, none complained and all pitched in.
– Joseph J. Keenan, Palmetto Commercial Properties, Inc.
Although it was an enormous task that required extensive hours and coordination, with your proper management, we continued to offer Masses and administer the sacraments on a daily basis without hindrances. It was quite a remarkable accomplishment and all those involved should be commended.
– Most Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone, Bishop of Charleston
select Historic RestoratioN PROJECTS
CHARLESTON
Charleston City Market
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Historic Charleston County Courthouse
Blake Tenement House
Jackson Davenport
Avery Institute