By Chad Corley
Project at a Glance
- Owner: University of South Carolina and City of Columbia, S.C.
- Landscape Architect: Grimball Cotterill
- Contractor: LAD Corporation
- Installer: Unit Paving
- Products: Holland, CityStone pavers from Pavestone
- Installation: 2017
Custom pavers created a modern aesthetic at a key community space in downtown Columbia, S.C., the state capital and home to the University of South Carolina (USC). In 2014, the city, Richland County and the university launched an urban development plan called Innovista to advance the “learn, live, work, and play” lifestyle of its residents by better connecting the campus and the downtown riverfront through upgrades along Greene Street. A landmark element in the first phase of Innovista is Foundation Square, a 2.5-acre multi-purpose community space completed in 2017. The square features four distinct plazas constructed with nearly 100,000-square-feet of Pavestone pavers. 
A combination of light, medium and dark gray 12-ft-by-12-ft Holland pavers from Pavestone were installed to give the four plazas a modern look.Quikrete
Designed in quadrants on each corner of the Greene Street (north-south) and Lincoln Street (east-west) intersection, the four 150-ft-by-160-ft plazas serve a specific purpose. The northwest quadrant acts as a promenade for Colonial Life Arena, which is home to USC basketball teams, graduations and concerts for the public. The southwest quadrant complements the adjacent parking lot with bike share stations, four 15-ft granite fountains and common space for pedestrian gatherings. The northeast quadrant, which shares the block with a USC research facility, has a lawn and granite benches for everyday use or it can be converted into an amphitheater. The southeast quadrant is an extension of the student housing and retail shops on the same block with a dining deck, canopy and space for staged public concerts.
In addition to using granite for seats, curbs, steps, fountains and sculptures, a combination of light, medium and dark gray 12-ft-by-12-ft Holland pavers from Pavestone were installed by Unit Paving in a north-south running bond pattern to give the four plazas a modern look.
Unit Paving employed the same installation technique for Greene Street and Lincoln Street the length of Foundation Square using dark and medium gray 4-ft-by-8-ft CityStone pavers from Pavestone to create a contrast with the four plazas.
Designed to accommodate vehicular traffic, the CityStone pavers were also customized in yellow and white versions to create driving and biking lanes as well as parking stripes on the two streets.
CityStone pavers were customized in yellow and white to create driving and biking lanes and parking stripes.Quikrete
Arguably the biggest challenge installing the pavers was the multi-step process of preparing the existing streets. After grinding down the various surfaces and making any necessary repairs, a tack coat was applied followed by a 3-ft bed of concrete, rubberized asphalt adhesive and polymeric sand. The tedious process required intense attention to detail in order to create a consistently level surface and insure the pavers were properly installed to meet South Carolina Department of Transportation requirements. It also allowed the paver surfaces to be installed at grades for effective storm water management.
Chad Corley is the director of public relations for the QUIKRETE Companies.
