ICYMI – the brand-new Boyd Plaza (the open space in front of Columbia Museum of Art) was unveiled earlier this month, after shutting down in Spring 2018 + undergoing ~$2.8 million worth of renovations – which was all a gift to Columbia from the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation Inc.

Here’s what the plaza looked like pre-revamp

Boyd Plaza before renovations | Photo by @colamuseum

And here’s what it looks like now:

New base for the fountain | Photo by @COLAtoday

Additional green space, seating + two pavilions | Photo by @COLAtoday

Here are deets on some of the new features:

Two pavilions for events + public use – which will be utilized as a flexible indoor-outdoor space. The museum was awarded two grants from the Knight Foundation + Central Carolina Community Foundation to help involve Soda Citizens with an upbeat schedule of events + performances – like Arts & Draughts; the Indie Grits Fist and Spoon Fair; Love, Peace & Hip Hop; and CMA Play on the Plaza. 🎶
500 new trees + shrubs. Click here to see all the new landscaping. 🌳
The Keenan sculpture (a.k.a. the big fountain at the entrance) received a new base.⛲
Seat walls for additional seating. 💺
Main Street Ice skating rink was permanently relocated to the Columbiana Centre Mall. ⛸

The reasoning behind all the renovations: to make Boyd Plaza a place people wanted to visit and hang out year-round.