Visitors flock to Charleston for countless reasons—our incredible restaurants, the beautiful weather—but the asset that we, Carriage Properties, are most proud of is the stunning architecture that gives charm and a sense of history to the city we call home. Working with our clients to buy and sell properties that are centuries old makes our job very special, which is why we choose to sponsor The Preservation Society‘s Annual Carolopolis Awards every year.

Started in 1953, the Carolopolis Awards (the word is combination of the latin version of Charles – “Carol” – and polis, which in Greek means “city”) seeks to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond in their restoration and preservation of the exterior of their home or commercial building. This year marked the 62nd year that these awards were given out, and we’re excited to have recognized fifteen buildings (and their owners, architects, and contractors) that are making our city proud.

Many private homes were recognized, a few of them pictured below, as well as commercial buildings like the Cigar Factory, one of the largest commercial properties in Charleston, located on East Bay Street, that was beautifully restored and turned into office and retail space in 2015. The Post & Courier’s architecture columnist Robert Behre wrote a fabulous piece about the history and restoration of the building for those who are interested.

For a full list of the addresses recognized, check out The Preservation Society’s blog on this year’s winners.