Last summer, we told you that Historic Columbia’s Hampton-Preston Greenhouse and Gatehouse project was approved by the city of Columbia’s Design/Development Review Commission.

The greenhouse + gatehouse project is now underway at 1615 Blanding St. on the Hampton-Preston Mansion property. It was designed by Lambert Architecture and Construction Services as reconstructions of the original buildings.

Historic Columbia's new greenhouse | Images via @historiccolumbia

Here are some updates on the project:

Trench drains were installed
Greenhouse structure + glass have been delivered
Greenhouse base and wall angle installation has started
Erectors have started staging the greenhouse base and installing the wall angle

This new greenhouse is being built where the former, smaller greenhouse stood from the 1850s into the late 1800s. The new space will have a section used for teaching classes + showing folks how to propagate their own plants.

Funding for the project is projected to cost between $1.5-2 million and has been greatly supported by the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation — a long-time partner + supporter of Historic Columbia’s efforts.

The gatehouse | Rendering photos via @historiccolumbia

The second structure — called the gatehouse — is expected to be built in the southwest section along the Pickens Street wall and will feature an octagonal exterior made of steel.

As of now, it looks like the project will be complete in Spring of 2022.