Orangeburg, South Carolina, a historic Southern town known as “The Garden City,” is defined by the lush landscape of Edisto Memorial Gardens. Positioned between Charleston and Columbia, and anchored by institutions such as Claflin University, South Carolina State University, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, the city is poised for a period of meaningful growth and reinvention.

As a pro bono initiative, CAL developed a comprehensive master plan for the gardens, reinforcing their role as the civic and cultural heart of the community. The design updates the historic landscape for the 21st century, enhancing plant health, circulation, and overall spatial organization while preserving its defining features, including the river, rose beds, rare plantings, and mature tree canopy.

Conceived as an intergenerational public space, the plan supports Orangeburg’s culture of outdoor living and community gathering. New elements include an amphitheater for local performances, a floating pedestrian path that engages the river and tree canopy, expanded picnic areas, and revitalized rose and azalea gardens designed to ensure long-term ecological health and an enriched visitor experience.