A new recycling center on a reclaimed brownfield along the Elk River—public infrastructure that puts a damaged industrial site back to work for the city.

The project converts underused riverfront land into a high-performance civic facility: clear circulation for residents and collection vehicles, efficient sorting and processing space, and a site plan that respects the river’s edge.

Existing industrial conditions are addressed so the ground can support operations, landscape, and long-term environmental repair along the Elk. Architecture and site work stay practical and dignified.

Form, proportion, and context organize a building that is easy to use, economical to maintain, and honest about its purpose—functional, sustainable, and built as a good neighbor to the water and the surrounding community.

The result is more than a utility. It is brownfield reuse with a public mission: cleaner operations, a restored piece of riverfront, and a durable facility that serves Charleston for generations.