Honor Tower

Greenville, SC, United States

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Honor Tower

Greenville, SC, United States

Firm

Endrestudio

Type

Cultural › Observation Tower

STATUS

Under Construction

YEAR

2026

BUDGET

$10M - 50M

UNIFYING PLACE

The Honor Tower at Unity Park is designed by ENDRESTUDIO to be an icon for the City of Greenville, anchoring a sprawling newly-completed 60-acre public space of recreation, play, and gathering. Situated on the old boundary between two formerly segregated parks, the Honor Tower symbolizes the aspirations and commitment of this community to preserve, protect, and provide access to their natural resources for all residents and visitors.

MONUMENT

The 125-ft tall Honor Tower is a monument to remember those who have served this community at home and abroad, both in challenging times and in times of plenty: the six pillars of the tower represent and recognize the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of those who have served in the Armed Forces, Police Department, Fire Department, Utilities and Public Works, Emergency Medical Services, and in Public Health. The steel columns wind around the central core and come together to support the observation deck, symbolizing the unified effort of first responders and civil servants in supporting stability in a constantly changing world.

TECTONIC HISTORY

The Tower is designed to be a beacon for the community, a literal lighthouse whose morphing form, modularity, rich materials, and exquisite detailing are inspired by the historic connection of the Southernside and West Greenville neighbourhoods to textile manufacturing while also recognizing the skilled manufacturing industries that continue to form the backbone of the economy today. By day, the copper-hued metal skin of the tower will glisten in the sun, and at night, it will glow from within, becoming a lantern to illuminate cool evenings in the park.

INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

The experience within the Tower is designed to be barrier-free and inclusive. Visitors enter through a prismatic concrete frame at the tower base and emerge in a porous interstitial space that rises 100 ft overhead, separated from the day's heat by the outer wood and metal slatted skin. The procession bifurcates into two possible paths for the ascent: some visitors will climb 176 steps that wind around the elevator core, seeing the view change as the wind through a dappled shadow and sun-drenched space; others may take the elevator to carry them skywards, watching the view and light change through the glass walls of the elevator as they ascend.

The observation deck wraps 360 degrees, with views of downtown Greenville to the east, Paris Mountain and the foothills of the Blue Ridge range to the northwest, and the rolling hills and fertile plains of Greenville County stretching away to the South. The deck is open air, enclosed with a floor-to-ceiling stainless steel net for safety while creating continuous and expansive views for people of all heights, ages, and mobilities.

GROUNDBREAKING

The Honor Tower at Unity Park is currently under construction, commemorated with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 11, 2024. The project is scheduled to be completed and open to the public in the second half of 2025.