Graduate Columbia has opened on the University of South Carolina (USC) campus. Housed within the historic Cain Matthews Tompkins Black House building, the 1911-era building was acquired by the university in 1974 and reborn as the Inn at USC in 2005. The design of the newest Graduate hotel pays homage to this heritage.
“The cheerful energy and charm of the South is celebrated with bold colors, dynamic floral patterns, and breezy fabrics. During the restoration, we made sure to heighten all of the key architectural elements from the original Black House property,” says Andrew Alford, chief creative officer of Graduate Hotels.
An oversized, handpainted rocking chair crafted by locally based builder Tom Hinton and artist Eileen Blyth will be exhibited as an onsite art installation through September. A lacquer, lavender front desk anchors the lobby, adorned with colorful tassels atop black and white checkered floors decorated with an oriental rug.
Poindexter, Graduate’s signature all-day lobby café, is anchored by a hand-carved bar composed of wood that is sourced from the original Black House. Cherry floral prints and yellow hues contrast the original architectural elements like mahogany. Included in the hotel’s 2,500 square feet of flexible event spaces are two meeting rooms, as well as a back porch and an outdoor courtyard.
A mix of linen fabrics, vinyl grass cloth wallpaper, and tailored elements evoking Southern flare in the 119 guestrooms, while rooster-inspired headboards reference the USC mascot, the gamecock. Three of the onsite suites are perched on the second floor of Black House, featuring original woodwork and grand four-poster beds.
