SCNOMA's Project Pipeline

Building the Future: Supporting the South Carolina NOMA Project Pipeline Camp

In a world where the built environment shapes lives, the architecture profession must reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. That’s why Rush Dixon Architects is proud to sponsor the 2025 South Carolina NOMA Project Pipeline Camp—a transformative program organized by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) that introduces middle and high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to the world of architecture and design.

What Is the Project Pipeline Camp? Founded by NOMA, the Project Pipeline Camp is a national initiative designed to empower underrepresented youth through immersive, hands-on experiences in architecture, urban planning, and design thinking. The South Carolina chapter of NOMA (SCNOMA) brings this mission to life locally through a dynamic camp that gives students tools to envision themselves as future architects and change-makers. Over the course of the multi-day camp, students are introduced to architectural fundamentals, engage in collaborative design challenges, visit professional architecture firms, and work alongside practicing architects and designers. The curriculum promotes creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork—skills that extend far beyond design and into every corner of life.

Why It Matters. The architecture profession has historically struggled with diversity. While people of color represent a growing share of the U.S. population, they remain significantly underrepresented in architecture. NOMA and its Project Pipeline initiative are working to change that, ensuring that the future of design is inclusive, representative, and equitable. Supporting initiatives like Project Pipeline isn’t just about education—it’s about equity. It’s about giving young people the opportunity to see themselves in spaces where they’ve traditionally been excluded. It’s about creating a stronger, more empathetic profession that designs with every voice in mind. At Rush Dixon Architects, we believe in the power of design to shape lives—and the power of opportunity to shape futures. As a sponsor of the 2025 SCNOMA Project Pipeline Camp, we are honored to support the next generation of architects and community leaders. Our sponsorship reflects more than financial support; it reflects our commitment to cultivating diversity in architecture, uplifting the voices of future leaders, and helping create a more inclusive built environment.

How You Can Help. If you’re inspired by the mission of NOMA and the Project Pipeline program, consider getting involved:

• Sponsor or donate to your local NOMA chapter.

• Volunteer as a mentor or guest speaker at Project Pipeline Camps.

• Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within your own firm or institution.

• Spread the word to students, educators, and community organizations.

Camp Hall Avian Pavilion

Santee Cooper’s Camp Hall is a next generation of commerce park where people, nature and productivity connect, juxtaposing state-of-the-art manufacturing in a setting of vast natural beauty. The design concept of “Nature + The Machine” permeates the built environment; like the vehicles and machines produced, the architecture is intended to embody precision, sleekness and innovation. The building forms are envisioned to be abstract interpretations of the patterns, colors, and figures found in native species. The first structure built acts as a civic-scaled front porch. It was created not only as the embodiment of the ‘Nature + Machine’ design concept but as a generous offering to the commerce park’s workforce. Inspired by a bird’s outstretched wings with feathered patterning, this pavilion is the front step of the development offering a place to gather, a classroom for environmental lessons, a perch to birdwatch, or a quiet place of respite. This public porch allows the workforce and community at large to engage with each other and nature, perhaps a reminder of what really matters.

Client: Santee Cooper / Camp Hall

Site Design: Seamon Whiteside

Architect: Rush Dixon Architects

Structural Engineer: ADC Engineering

Electrical Engineer: DWG Engineering

General Contractor: Choate Construction

Photo by @Rush Dixon IV Photography

Saluda Cabin

When architects become their own client - a glimpse at a modernist cabin in Western North Carolina. Simple, edited, welcoming, our goal was to create a retreat for ourselves, family, and friends that felt grounding yet aspirational — a place where you could exhale, recharge, and also have big thoughts and dreams.

Architect: Rush Dixon Architects
Builder: Green River Builders
Interior Colorist: Jill Howard Design Studio
Photography: Keith Isaacs Photo

Thank you to Carolina Home + Garden Magazine for the feature excerpted below:

“Like a breeze peeling off sweet Lake Sheila, a fresh design movement is on the rise. “We have certainly done our share of white-on-white color schemes, but lately we are seeing a shift toward warmer palettes,” says architect Judy Dixon, partner with husband Rush Dixon III in Rush Dixon Architects, their boutique firm based in Charleston, South Carolina. “For our Saluda house in particular, bright whites just wouldn’t have achieved the same vibe as the darker, saturated tones,” says Judy.

The Dixons fell hard for Saluda, NC — its preserved historic main street, its dramatic perch on the Blue Ridge escarpment just over the border from upcountry South Carolina — on various trips to the area. During the initial phase of the COVID-19 lockdown, they began to plot their getaway. “While Rush and I were already imagining a scenario where we could enjoy a quiet sanctuary to rest and recharge outside of Charleston, the pandemic offered clarity in a hurry — the future is unknown, enjoy your life now — which added oxygen to our dream of a mountain retreat,” she recalls. The couple are empty nesters whose grown kids are rising creatives immersed in the film and fashion industries. After a downsize, the Dixons’ architecture firm now numbers just the two of them, with emotional fortification provided by their “equally adventurous and lazy” five-year-old whippet, Mr. Tibbits.

An early professional inspiration was the Inn at Middleton Place on Charleston’s Ashley River. Built in 1987 to complement the country’s oldest landscaped gardens (ca. 1741), the hotel’s wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, cypress shutters and paneling, made-on-site natural bath products, and European-style spa tubs were a prophetic example of the “outside in” revival that would geyser up in the 2010s. The Dixons’ mountain-cabin interpretation is another example of far-sighted organic design grounded in what Judy calls “modernist tenets” — that is, “clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and a strong connection to the outdoors.” Snuggled on its site with a single-story footprint and topped with a mono-slope roof, the structure faces a copse of firs, young poplars, and private Lake Sheila, where no motorboats are allowed. “Capturing the best views” was paramount, and these Low Country architects “were fortunate to have a great builder in Geoff Rose [of local Green River Builders], who was a knowledgable resource” for mountain construction, says Judy.

While the couple leans minimalist, Judy also acknowledges that contemporary design can feel “cold or too sterile.” There’s no chance of that here, thanks to a tongue-and-groove cypress ceiling, porch floors of bluestone, and an interior palette guided by interior designer Jill Howard, a colorist who fine-tuned the Dixons’ pursuit of rich surfaces beyond the neutral safety zone. “The North Carolina mountains envelop you like a blanket, and we crave that same feeling inside the home,” comments Howard. “That’s why warm colors, cozy textures, and lots of wood feel right [here].” The Dixons took photos of the property in all four seasons, and the bedroom-wall hues favor fall. Even the paint names echo the serene natural surrounds: e.g. Sherwin-Williams’ historic shade “Rookwood Dark Green” and sleepy-dark “Still Water” blue.

The open-concept great room, however, is all about “Iron Ore,” a tone that mimics the monochromatic exterior. The off-black shade is moody but authoritative, reverberating with Scandinavian intellectual chic. It’s contrasted not with decorative “pops of color” but more naturally, via rows of bright books displayed on hand-built, black-painted shelves.  Judy’s own figure-ground maps — renderings that delineate the lines between a plot’s built and unbuilt environments — line the walls above the shelving, showing Charleston, Saluda, and Blacksburg, Virginia (where the couple met at architecture school). 

“Our goal was to create a place for ourselves, family, and friends that felt grounding yet aspirational — a place where you could exhale, recharge, and also have big thoughts and dreams,” states Judy. She further quotes a tenet by author/activist Glennon Doyle, whose ideal for emotional wellness is the sense of being at once “held and free.”

Barkitecture

In case you are wondering how to get our attention, find a way to mix four of our favorite things - architecture, product design, branding, and dogs - into a design competition. That is exactly what the Charleston Animal Society did with their “Barkitecture Competition.” In partnership with AIA Charleston (American Institute of Architects), this contest aims to blend innovation and design with the comfort and well-being of our furry friends, creating spaces that are both functional and stylish. The entries are currently up for auction and will be displayed at the “Paws in the Park” event scheduled for Saturday 11/23 at Brittlebank Park. Our design process (moderately supervised by our whippet, Mr. Tibbits) covered many iterations for both interior and exterior shelters, color studies, nods to mid-century modern architecture, etc. and was ultimately memorialized into a catalogue “Mod Pods - Luxury Indoor Digs + Accessories for Pets.” “The Dottie” was chosen to be fabricated for auction with the expertise of our friends at Low Country Case + Millwork. (Special shout out to David Stasiukaitis and Ken Hibner!)

Scroll to the end for a video of the finished product and click HERE for a sneak peak and to start your bidding.

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Forbes List: America's Top 200 Residential Architects

Forbes Magazine just released their inaugural list of “America’s Top 200 Residential Architects” and we are beyond excited to share that Rush Dixon Architects is included this esteemed group of designers. As Forbes’ Senior Architecture Editor, Richard Olsen, describes “Our intention was to cultivate a list that extended far beyond just those who reside in the nation’s top markets. And to help ensure that geographic inclusiveness, as well as the most equitable process of evaluation possible, we assembled a regionally diverse advisory board of leading experts on the American house.”

SELECTION METHODOLOGY

We were first contacted in February 2024 to submit photos and design intent for our Stono River Residence located in Charleston, SC. “Out of the more than 18,000 firms evaluated for the list, more than 750 were invited to submit up to three houses, each completed in 2019 or later, for formal consideration. The submitted projects were then evaluated conditionally, and according to Tiers 2 and 3, respectively, with each house receiving a numerical score according to merit. The highest scoring projects were advanced to the semifinalist stage, before being evaluated again, by both the Forbes Architecture editorial team and the Forbes Architecture Advisory Board, using the same system. The final 200 projects were collectively deemed to most closely meet the evaluating criteria.”

Tier 1: General Professional Evaluation:

• Integrity of online presence (quality of photography; professionalism of display; informational value; awards; publication history; etc.)

• Educational background of the firm’s principals

• Work histories and mentorships

Tier 2: Evaluation of a single “Exemplary House” [Stability, Utility, and Beauty]

Tier 3: Evaluation Relative to Forbes Architecture’s Residential Guiding Principles & Best Practices

• Siting and Local Context

• Architectural Form and Detailing

• Building Materials and Craft

• Spatial Configuration

• HVAC and Tech

• Physical and Psychological Effects

• Environmental | Appropriateness to Region and Local Climate Zone

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

• Georgia Bizios

• Ken Breisch

• Danelle Briscoe

• Virginia Cartwright

• Timothy Gray

• Carlos Jimenez

• Joanna Lombard

• William Morgan

• Kevin D. Murphy

• Lisa D. Schrenk

• David Sellers

• Ekaterini (Kat) Vlahos

A sincere thank you to our wonderful client, Forbes Magazine, Richard Olsen and the editing team and the Advisory Members for considering and including our firm on this special list. Click here for the full article published on October 30, 2024 including expanded methodology and Advisory Board members’ backgrounds.

Not Built for This

We just passed our 30 year anniversary of living and working in Charleston, SC and have seen quite a change to the built environment in retrospect. While there is much to notate on the changes since 1994 (population growth, multi-industry economic solidification, our ability to not freak out as much at the sight of a Palmetto Bug), one thing that has not changed is watching the tide chart when there is rain in the forecast lest we find ourselves navigating through flooded streets. Flash back to our first landlord ferrying us in his canoe from our attic apartment on Halsey Street to our car parked on higher ground a couple blocks away. Then there was the time we were returning home from a late night in the office and drove through what we thought was a puddle in Hampton Park Terrace to the detriment of our 2000 Volkswagon Beetle’s transmission. We were still learning that water in the streets is a big deal. Throw in multiple mandatory hurricane evacuations due to storm surge threats, heat waves, coastal erosion and the sub-effects of each, and it’s hard not to be thinking about lessons learned and how best to design in the future. Enter a new discovery from Roman Mars and his team at 99% Invisible, one of our go-to podcasts.

The "Not Built for This" series from “99% Invisible” explores the intricate relationship between design, infrastructure, and the unexpected challenges that arise from our built environment. It delves into how many structures and systems, while ostensibly functional, often fall short in addressing the realities of everyday use and unforeseen circumstances. Through engaging storytelling, the series highlights various examples, from inadequate public transport accommodations to the shortcomings of urban planning, ultimately prompting listeners to reflect on the importance of thoughtful design that anticipates human needs and activities. By shedding light on these issues, "Not Built for This" encourages a reconsideration of how those involved in development, design and construction approach architecture and urban development to create more resilient and adaptable spaces. Below is an itemized glimpse at each episode.

• Episode 1: ‘The Bottom of the Bowl’ Emmett FitsGerald talks about the devastating flooding that happened in his hometown of Montpelier, VT.

• Episode 2: ‘The Ripple Effect’ (Paradise, CA) “This is the story of what happened after the famous fire in Paradise, California, and where many of the survivors ended up. It’s a cautionary tale about a town caught in the cross hairs of both the climate crisis and the housing crisis, and what happened when thousands of displaced people showed up on its doorstep.” NBFT

• Episode 3: ‘The Price is Wrong’ illuminates how the literal cost of climate change trickles down to the homeowners in Florida as insurance companies are realizing the risk is no longer paying off.

• Episode 4: ‘Unbuilding the Terrace’ shows us the effect an alternative approach to handling flood-prone areas has; instead of homeowners rebuilding and hoping for the best, government programs are helping residents move to higher ground.

• Episode 5: ‘The Little Levee That Could’ spotlights a hard won infrastructure project - Hamilton City, California’s levee.

• Episode 6: ‘Maximum Temperature’ “The impacts of climate disasters are often measured in terms of property damage. But in places like Phoenix, Arizona, and in hot places all over the world, climate change is wreaking a very different kind of havoc – on living things. In the final episode of Not Built for This, we reckon with the biological limits of climate adaptation.” NBFT

Click here for the series landing page.

"Modern Oasis"

Our custom design for a modern coastal home crafted for entertaining and enjoying life on the Stono River in Charleston was featured in the June 2024 issue of Charleston Magazine. Creating a strong connection to the coastal views was paramount in all of the design team’s decision making.

“Organic elements are found throughout the home, interspersed by white plaster walls, providing a modern aesthetic that blurs the lines between inside and out. Fluted wooden walls in the foyer, repeated as the headboard in the primary bedroom, provide architectural interest. The headboard, paired with deep windows that frame the bed and showcase the lush green foliage outside, conjures the feeling of sleeping in a forest.” Jennifer Pattison Touhy, Charleston Magazine

Click here for full article.

East Cooper Community Outreach Expansion + Renovation

“Neighbors helping neighbors” is a core mission of one of Mount Pleasant’s oldest non-profit organizations. During the start of the pandemic, we had the privilege of assisting East Cooper Community Outreach reorganize their Wellness Pantry to create a safer environment and more efficient layout to better serve the growing client base. This was our first behind-the-scenes glimpse of the work ECCO provides for our East Cooper neighbors. Since then we have been able to learn how each of ECCO’s departments support the core mission and were selected to design the expansion and renovation of their existing facility in Mount Pleasant. Founded as an emergency relief effort in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo’s devastation, East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) now functions as a permanent resource for the community through their food pantry, dental, medical, housing and financial assistance services. An over-arching goal of the building improvements was to locate all of the organization’s services under one roof; thus a space needs programming effort was critical to exploring how best to redesign the existing building and add on. The final design provides a total of 16,200sf and a new porte cochere. The existing ‘Lowcountry vernacular’ architectural aesthetic of the existing building was continued in the renovations but with a fresh color scheme to mark this new chapter for ECCO. Click here for an interview with ECCO’s Executive Director, Stephanie Kelley.

A new porte cochere or covered drive will allow clients, volunteers and donors to be protected during daily interactions.

Discussions with staff members resulted in the consolidation of the medical and dental departments to create a single “Health Services” wing (in purple) as well as the importance of consolidating the multiple entrances into a single main entry door where every client is received and personally assisted with their needs.

The existing facility, shown above, was built in 2002 and expanded in 2008.

A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on April 10, 2024.

General Contractor: Harbor Contracting

Civil Engineering: Seabrook Engineering

Landscape Architecture: The Tomblin Company

Architecture: Rush Dixon Architects

Structural Engineering: ADC Engineering

MPE Engineering: Charleston Engineering

Interior Design: Form + Function