CHARLESTON, SC — OCT. 21, 2025 — SC Ports celebrates the successful completion of a full restoration and stabilization of the historic Bennett Rice Mill façade, marking the most thorough rehabilitation of the historical structure since SC Ports assumed ownership in 1958. The $1.6 million restoration took a year to complete.
The landmark stands at the center of Union Pier terminal in downtown Charleston and has undergone partial restoration efforts in the 1990s and 2010s to slow deterioration. SC Ports’ Board of Directors awarded a contract to Landmark Preservation in April 2024 to properly restore the façade and ensure structural integrity, following discussions with the local preservation community.
“We thank Historic Charleston Foundation, The Preservation Society of Charleston, and local leaders for engaging with SC Ports on this effort,” said SC Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace.
“The Rice Mill Façade is a significant piece of Charleston’s architectural history, and the full restoration ensures it will become a beacon for the future redevelopment of this incredible waterfront property. The Port aims to be a good steward of the communities we work in, and this project is an example of how working collaboratively with our local partners yields benefits for all to enjoy.”
The scope of work for the project included inventory of historic bricks on site, partial reconstruction and repair of missing or deteriorated masonry and timber elements, and enhancement of the existing steel shoring structure. The work was performed to structurally stabilize the façade, while restoring it to its historic appearance as closely as possible.
“This generous commitment to protecting the imposing mill façade by SC Ports represents an important first step in the revitalization of Union Pier,” said Winslow Hastie, President and CEO of Historic Charleston Foundation. “As a rare surviving remnant of this part of Charleston’s working waterfront, the Bennett Rice Mill provides an opportunity to tell an important, and often forgotten, story about the city as a global trading center.”
“We are proud partners with SC Ports in giving this remarkable piece of architecture a new lease on life and re-establishing its connection to our city,” said Brian Turner, President and CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston.
GEL Engineering performed a detailed hands-on assessment of the façade in 2023 to prepare drawings and technical specifications for the restoration efforts, and worked alongside Landmark to review and solve unforeseen items discovered during the construction process.
The completion of the project comes ahead of SC Ports’ sale of Union Pier to Beemok Capital.
Notable quotes:
“Historic Charleston Foundation has been invested in the future of the Bennett Rice Mill since the early 1950s. We have contributed funds and preservation expertise, including starting a building crafts training program in the 1990s to teach local youth preservation trades such as brick repair on this structure. This generous commitment to protecting the imposing mill façade by SC Ports represents an important first step in the revitalization of Union Pier. As a rare surviving remnant of this part of Charleston’s working waterfront, the Bennett Rice Mill provides an opportunity to tell an important, and often forgotten, story about the city as a global trading center.” — Winslow Hastie, President & CEO, Historic Charleston Foundation
“The Bennett Rice Mill is a tangible reminder of the legacy of rice cultivation in the Lowcountry. Debate about its future began as far back as the late 1930s after severe damage caused by a tornado. That its façade has survived is a testament to the craftsmanship and engineering skill of its builders. We are proud partners with the SC State Ports Authority in giving this remarkable piece of architecture a new lease on life and re-establishing its connection to our city.” — Brian Turner, President & CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston
“This restoration couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment as we honor the past of this site and look toward the future of Union Pier. The Bennett Rice Mill façade stands as a powerful reminder that preserving our history and advancing our city must always go hand in hand.” — City of Charleston Mayor William Cogswell
“The GEL Engineering Structural Group is proud to have partnered with the SC Ports Authority to provide preservation services for the historic Bennett Rice Mill façade. Collaborating with Landmark Preservation to solve the challenges of restoring this unique structure has been a true honor. We trust that this historically sensitive restoration shows the proper respect for the craftsmen that built the structure. We thank our teaming partners and stakeholders on this worthy endeavor, Landmark Preservation, SC Ports Authority, Historic Charleston Foundation, and The Preservation Society of Charleston.” — Jonathan Sigman, PE, Lead Project Engineer, GEL Engineering, LLC
“We are grateful to the Ports Authority for prioritizing the restoration of the historic Rice Mill façade and to Landmark Preservation for their meticulous work. We look forward to partnering with the community to determine the best ways to honor and showcase this important landmark within the Union Pier neighborhood.” — Miller Harper, Beemok Capital
