Clemson University
Holtzendorff Hall, one of 14 Clemson University buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has stood since 1916. Originally the campus YMCA, today it serves primarily as classroom space. The building was lacking essential ADA and accessibility upgrades to meet the evolving needs of students and faculty. Clemson University’s goal for this project was to seamlessly integrate a fully accessible elevator into the historic structure—preserving its architectural integrity while enhancing modern functionality.
As Radium explored options for this project, it raised many questions. Could a modern elevator fit within the building’s original footprint? Would an addition be necessary, and if so, should it seamlessly match the existing structure or introduce a bold contrast? Where could the elevator shaft be positioned within the footprint? And most importantly, what broader implications would an upgrade of this scale have on the rest of the building?
As the project progressed, the answers to these critical questions began to take shape. After extensive deliberation on how best to integrate a modern elevator into a historic building, the team collaboratively determined that the most effective solution was to work within the structure’s original footprint. To achieve this, Clemson opted to remove the floors of an existing stack of toilet rooms, repurposing the resulting shaft as a fully functional elevator enclosure. This approach not only preserved the integrity of the building but also ensured complete accessibility across all four floors.
While there was a clear direction, fitting the elevator within the building’s original footprint still presented several challenges for the design team. The existing stack of toilet rooms lacked the necessary rated enclosure for an elevator, requiring a slight extension of the exterior wall to meet clearance and rating requirements. To ensure a seamless integration, the design strategically leveraged existing architectural elements, such as the stone window frame details, preserving the building’s character while achieving Clemson’s accessibility goals.
