Project Information

In late 2022, the Aiken Corporation engaged McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) to conduct a feasibility study for a potential project in Aiken, South Carolina. At the time, the Aiken Corporation was attempting to attract a $20 Million investment in the form of a grant from the PU Settlement Fund from the South Carolina General Assembly. The proposed project concept was to build a mixed-use building in Downtown Aiken that would support the growth of the region’s knowledge economy. The new facility was targeted to serve as a workplace for 75-100 jobs and be located on land owned by the City of Aiken in the heart of Downtown, thus also serving as a catalyst for further economic development.

A feasibility study was conducted with members of the public to give citizens an opportunity to voice their concerns about a potential project downtown. Following that session, the design team spent time understanding the existing site conditions, the potential tenant’s ideal space needs and how this user might interact with the proposed public spaces in the building.

The resulting space needs indicates a three-story, 36,000 square foot building, with the top two floors being occupied by the proposed office tenant and the ground floor serving as event/meeting space.

There are many benefits to having a brand new, state-of-the-art building in downtown Aiken:

The budget for the mixed-use office building has been carefully analyzed. The construction comes at no direct cost to City taxpayers.

SRNL will create a pipeline for new talent and develop the existing employee base. It will offer more than jobs, but also training for faculty, graduate students and interns.

A recent economic impact study shows that these new jobs and higher incomes will increase total expenditures per person across all retail categories, equaling more than $3.3 million of new spending annually.

The location will be a safe, state-of-the-art, professional building that will complement the historic aesthetic of downtown.

The construction and completion of the building will not hinder the Hotel Aiken Project, which will assist in providing first class amenities to visiting employees of SRNL.