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Storehouse Row becomes home to arts colony
By Dennis Quick
Senior Staff Writer
Photographer Lauren Preller feels a strong creative vibe in 10 Storehouse Row, a 40,000-square-foot renovated industrial warehouse on the former Navy base in North Charleston.
In early March, Preller moved her business, FotopopART, into one of the warehouse’s studios where she custom designs photographic art pieces for business offices. Preller considers 10 Storehouse Row “inspirational” and says the building suits her needs perfectly.
“I want to work with architects, interior designers and other creative businesses in a business-to-business relationship, and those are the kind of businesses that are here,” Preller explained.
Preller is leasing her 15-foot-by-20-foot studio for $350 a month. In addition to the studio space, she and other artists have free access to the warehouse’s 5,000-square-foot exhibition area. Preller recently used the exhibition space to display her works, which cost between $350 and $2,000.
The warehouse lies in the heart of the Navy yard, the Noisette Co.’s 340-acre portion of the Navy base. Noisette plans to transform that acreage into a mixed-use urban hub of commercial, residential and cultural development.
The company said it thinks 10 Storehouse Row will be a catalyst in this effort and form the nucleus of North Charleston’s arts community.
The Noisette Co. began its $3.2 million renovation of the warehouse in April 2005 and expects renovations to be complete within 30 days, according to Noisette project manager Jeff Baxter.
The American College of the Building Arts occupies the eastern half of the warehouse, built in 1939 as part of the base’s Storehouse Row. The college conducts masonry, plastering, metal forging and other courses in its warehouse space, which comprises an 18,000-square-foot shop area and 2,000 square feet of office space.
The western half of the building contains eight 300-square-foot artists’ studios plus 4,500 square feet of professional office space and 950 square feet of available restaurant space. Artist studios lease for about $350 to $500 a month, while offices lease for roughly $1,150 a month. More than 90% of the studio and office space has been leased, Baxter said.
The warehouse’s features include concrete walls and heavy-gauge steel construction, a 35-foot-high ceiling and 15 garage doors. Noisette worked with the state Historic Preservation Office in Columbia to preserve these features and the building’s façade.
The warehouse was renovated with sustainability in mind. Natural light pouring through rows of full-length windows will reduce lighting costs.
Many of the interior walls are constructed with transparent materials to allow the passage of natural light. On cloudy days, a sensor triggers overhead electrical lights.
Large overhead ceiling fans keep the building cool during summer and eliminate air-conditioning bills. Heating units for winter are built into the ceiling.
Huge garage doors at the building’s east and west ends serve as main entrances. It was through these doors that trains entered to unload their cargo by an overhead crane, which still remains and will serve as an art object.
Glass entrances to the building have been built directly behind the metal garage doors, which can be rolled down in the event of a hurricane.
Kansas City, Mo.-based architecture firm BNIM designed the building’s renovation.
The warehouse began drawing interest from prospective tenants when its exterior was completed and its interior took shape, Baxter said.
“When people were able to see the building, that’s when they began to get the concept,” he noted.
Vapor Apparel also set up shop in 10 Storehouse Row in October. The business, which occupies two offices, produces sports T-shirts, tank tops and sweatshirts with fancy designs.
“We felt like we could be creative here,” said Christopher Bernat, chief revenue officer for Source Substrates, which markets the Vapor Apparel products.
Dennis Quick is senior staff writer for the Business Journal. E-mail him at dquick@charlestonbusiness.com.
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