Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle, and Wolff (LBC&W), an architecture firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, was the region's most prominent firm from 1948 until 1975. While the roots of the firm stretch back to 1938, LBC&W was officially incorporated in 1948 as William G. Lyles, Thomas J. Bissett, William A. Carlisle, and Louis M. Wolff."LBC&W History-1946-1975, Columbia Operations." LBC&W file, South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. LBC&W's streamlined operational structure, atypically high employment numbers, and varied portfolio contributed to the success of the firm. The firm had satellite offices in Richmond, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Rockville, Maryland.Lynn Gordon, "LBC&W: From Attic to High Rise and Beyond," Sandlapper, July 1974 At its height, over 350 architects, engineers, and other staff members were employed by LBC&W. The firm completed over 7,000 projects in its 30-year span, many of which were on the cutting edge of Modern architecture. From Clemson University's library that reflects the influence of Edward Durell Stone's Embassy at New Delhi to the Bankers Trust Tower in downtown Columbia that mimics the Seagram Building by Mies van der Rohe, LBC&W incorporated the methodologies and designs of the great architects of the twentieth century. LBC&W designed some of South Carolina's – and certainly Columbia's – most prominent commercial and private buildings, contributing greatly to the modern built environment of Columbia today.
History
1938-1948 In 1938, William Lyles and Robert Caughman Stork began the firm Stork & Lyles. Robert Stork suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage a few years earlier, however, and did not recover enough to carry a full workload alongside Lyles. Bill Stork, the brother of Robert, returned to South Carolina from Washington D.C. where he had been working and continued with the firm Stork and Lyles. Bill Stork and Lyles, who were both graduates of Clemson University's architecture program, were interrupted by World War II. In February 1942, Lyles was transferred to Washington D.C. as a member of the General Staff of the War Department. He attained the rank of captain in April 1942, and by June of that year, Lyles was on his way to Europe as the chief of design for the chief engineer of the European Theater of Operations. He was responsible for the design of camps and hospitals in the European theater for forty-one months.“Columbian Who Directed Billion Dollar ETO Construction Returns,” The State, December 16, 1945. On November 13, 1945, Lyles returned to Columbia and resumed his work with Stork. At this time, the firm was working in a small space above McGregor's Drug Store. Stork and Lyles began working in 1946 with T.J. Bissett, William Carlisle, and Louis Wolff as associates. Around 1948, Stork left the firm, and the firm became officially incorporated as William G. Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle, and Wolff, which was later shortened to Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle, and Wolff.Lynn Gordon, "LBC&W: From the Attic to the High Rise and Beyond," Sandlapper, July 1974; "Notice," The State, June 16, 1948, 4
In 1948, LBC&W designed and began to build a new office complex at 1321 Bull Street to accommodate its continuously growing staff."Architect Firm Opens New Offices Here," The State, March 20, 1949, 4 The architects were relieved to leave the cramped conditions of the rooms above McGregor's Drug Store.
1948-1960
LBC&W's success in later years can be attributed in part to their early connections with the Federal Housing Administration through Bill Stork. The firm's projects during the late '40s and early '50s were primarily residential buildings insured under the FHA's section 608 policy, which was aimed at ensuring housing for veterans.The Congressional Research Service, “A Chronology of Housing Legislation and Selected Executive Actions, 1892-2003,” http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CPRT-108HPRT92629/html/CPRT-108HPRT92629.htm. LBC&W was by far the most active firm under the section 608 program in South Carolina. In tangent with this program, LBC&W completed 22 projects insured by the FHA at $16,836,400 by the end of the program in 1950. The closest competition was David Cevil of Spartanburg with a mere six projects insured at $3,492,500. Stork and Lyles completed only one FHA project of which $195,900 was insured by the FHA. Stork is reported to have completed three projects on his own, of which $1,381,500 was FHA insured.“$50 Million Rental Units Built Or Going Up Since Birth of FHA 608 Program 3 Years Ago,” The State, February 12, 1950, 36.
By 1950, the firm had grown to 58 people.LBC&W promotional brochure, January 1, 1965, WFA; LBC&W promotional brochure, 1950, WFA. During this period, the architects worked to diversify their portfolio after the postwar housing boom began to subside. The architects were successful in their diversification, and by the end of the 1950s, could list many different types of buildings in the company's portfolio such as libraries, science laboratories, office buildings, schools, and military facilities.
1960-1970s
In 1960, the firm moved to a new larger office designed by the firm to accommodate a growing staff.Anonymous, “William Gordon Lyles,” undated manuscript, LBC&W file, South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, 12. The 1960s were a critical period for LBC&W as they solidified their design philosophy, which was centered around their concept of "Total Design." This design philosophy embodied modern ideals about functionality, beauty, and client satisfaction. During this decade, the firm began their expansion outside of South Carolina. Offices in Washington D.C. were opened in 1960, and in later years the firm opened offices in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.Lynn Gordon, LBC&W: From Attic to High Rise and Beyond," Sandlapper, July 1974
LBC&W entered the 1970s with continuing growth and merged with CE-TEC, a professional service division of Combustion Engineering.“LBC&W History, 1946-1975,” undated manuscript, LBC&W file, South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, 9. The firm continued to win many awards for their work. They received awards from the American Institute of Architects for the Carolina Coliseum in 1970 and the U.S. Post Office in Florence, South Carolina, 1976. In April 1974, the firm moved into four of the twenty-one floors of the Bankers Trust Tower they designed."LBC&W Inc. Moves To New Bankers Trust Tower," The State, April 28, 1974, 32. In addition to LBC&W's geographic reach, the firm's design versatility was critical to their significant place in the history of Modern architecture.
By the late 1970s, the firm had been involved in more than 7,000 projects. Their buildings included elementary, middle, and high schools, collegiate dorms, libraries, student unions, government complexes, office buildings, post offices, military facilities, private homes, apartment complexes, factories, corporate headquarters, and at least one fallout shelter. The majority of these structures were built in a Modernist style. However, several buildings such as the Palmetto Club in Downtown Columbia and several single family residences were designed in the traditional Colonial Revival style that was also popular throughout the twentieth century. Even with projects for more conservative clients, the firm was able to adhere to its principles of design while taking into account the needs of their patrons.
LBC&W was dissolved in the late 1970s. Lyles’ retirement in 1974 followed by Bissett's in 1975 and the economic recession – compounded with LBC&W's illegal financial contribution to the Nixon campaign – most likely led to the breakup of the firm."Services for William Lyles Friday," The State, May 7, 1981, 3. Articles in The State newspaper report that LBC&W was still receiving bids in 1977, but by 1980, LBC&W was referred to as “the now-dissolved firm.”
LBC&W was able to transform the built environment of the South into a Modernist landscape. Its magnitude and versatility, coupled with its atypical organizational structure and breadth of work gave it the competitive edge needed to reshape the skyline of the South time and again.
Principal architects
Each partner, except Bill Lyles, began his career outside of South Carolina. Therefore, the unified LBC&W had ties to existing corporations and firms across the United States. The senior partners were collectively licensed to practice architecture in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington DC, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Tennessee.Basic Qualifications Booklet, 1963, WFA.
William G. Lyles (1913-1981) was born in Whitmire, South Carolina, on October 23, 1913. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Clemson College in 1934. He was the lead designer and partner, with his brother-in-law Robert C. Stork, at Stork & Lyles from 1938 to 1942 and 1945 to 1948. From 1940 until 1945, he served on active duty with the U.S. Army. He was a constructing quartermaster at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and the head of the design and engineering section of the Office of the Chief Engineers in Europe. He served as the president, vice president, and secretary of the South Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as president of the Clemson Architectural Foundation.LBC&W Qualification Book, “William G. Lyles,” January 1963, WFA. Lyles was also one of the founding members of the Richland County Historic Preservation Commission.LBC&W Qualification Book, “William G. Lyles,” January 1963, WFA. He wrote several articles for professional journals discussing his architecture philosophy and the firm's projects. These articles included "Lift Slab Construction Saves Clemson Time and Money" in the Consulting Engineer in 1954, and "Principles of Economic Feasibility for Architectural Projects" in 1962 in the AIA Journal. Within LBC&W, he headed the administration and legal services.LBC&W Qualifications Book,"William G. Lyles," January 1963, WFA.
Thomas J. Bissett (1909-1992) was born in Tampa, Florida, on December 30, 1909.Kathryn Kuranda, "Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (UPH) During the Cold War (1946-1989)," U.S. Army Environmental Center, December 2003, He graduated from Clemson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture in 1934. He was a member of the AIA and served as director of the South Carolina chapter for a number of years. Prior to his tenure at LBC&W he served as a draftsman for the firm of Frank Frimmer in Tampa, Florida, from 1935 to 1936. He was chief draftsman with the firm of Lester Avery in Miami, Florida, from 1936 to 1941. While on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1946, he held the rank of major with the Transportation Corps.LBC&W Qualification Book, "T.J.Bissett," January 1963, WFA. In addition to his role as senior partner in Columbia, he also acted as executive director and treasurer of the firm. Within the firm, he was in charge of production and engineering.
William A. Carlisle (1918-1999) was born in West Point, Georgia, on July 11, 1918. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Clemson College in 1939. Prior to LBC&W, he had 25 years of architecture experience practicing in Durham, North Carolina, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Carlisle was a second lieutenant with the 32nd Infantry Division and was a draftsman and engineer in the southwest Pacific during his active duty with the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945.LBC&W Qualification Book,"William A. Carlisle," January 1963, WFA. He served as president and vice president of the South Carolina chapter of the AIA and as president of the Clemson Architectural Foundation. At LBC&W, he acted as vice president and spent the majority of his time in the field in a supervisory capacity.