The Charleston Design School grew out of a larger exploration into the fabric of historic cities. Beginning with site visits to both Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC, the final project is built on a small site currently serving as a parking lot. The core of the building is a large four foot glass wall that brings light to the bottom floors, and acts as a separator between the outer balconies and the studio spaces. The studios are suspended off of this wall, providing a sense of privacy while allowing students to look out over the inner courtyard. At night, the lights shine through the glass core, creating an iconic but simple facade that references the horizontals and verticals of the historic buildings while interpreting them through a modern lens.