Our History
After receiving his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Duke University in 2014, Alan Todd moved to Conway, South Carolina to accept a teaching position at Coastal Carolina University. In the summer of 2020, Alan was introduced to the concept of deconstruction while searching for historic materials to refurbish hardwood floors in his home. He found salvaged flooring at Re:Purpose Savannah, a nonprofit organization that provides deconstruction and documentation services for historic buildings in the Savannah, Georgia area. Given his background in archaeology, Alan immediately recognized the significance of deconstruction in preserving the material culture and lived histories of local communities. He became passionate about preserving building materials and trade crafts that would otherwise be lost to demolition due to Horry County’s rapid population growth.
Alan had begun planning a deconstruction program in Conway by the summer of 2022, when events led to a larger vision for a community nonprofit. After discovering antisemitic propaganda littering his neighborhood, Alan turned to the city council for public support and reached out to community members to denounce the fear and hate behind the propaganda. In the process, he connected with the work of the Whittemore Racepath Historical Society, advocating to revitalize the historic “equalization” school Whittemore Elementary, built in 1954, as a community center and museum to African American residents of Conway. After the school building was demolished following a sudden fire, Alan doubled efforts to prioritize equitable access to salvaged materials and historical documentation in pursuit of social and environmental justice.
In the summer of 2023, Conway Architectural Salvage and Heritage Project was incorporated as a nonprofit, and a board of directors was established. To launch as a grassroots, community-driven project, the organization relied on local support and connections built over the previous few years, including:
To date, this volunteer-powered community project has kept over 400 tons of historic building materials out of landfills and instead repurposed for the well-being of local communities. This is only the beginning. With the recent acquisition of the historic Old Icehouse property, Conway Architectural Salvage and Heritage Project is now located adjacent to the local historic McIver-Shaw Lumber Co. Soon, both properties will be revived as the base of operations for the nonprofit to provide access to salvaged materials for the general public, space for research into the architectural and lived histories of disassembled structures, workshops for the revival of traditional trade crafts, and cultivation of a community garden and arboretum to highlight commitment to people, place, and planet.
Alan had begun planning a deconstruction program in Conway by the summer of 2022, when events led to a larger vision for a community nonprofit. After discovering antisemitic propaganda littering his neighborhood, Alan turned to the city council for public support and reached out to community members to denounce the fear and hate behind the propaganda. In the process, he connected with the work of the Whittemore Racepath Historical Society, advocating to revitalize the historic “equalization” school Whittemore Elementary, built in 1954, as a community center and museum to African American residents of Conway. After the school building was demolished following a sudden fire, Alan doubled efforts to prioritize equitable access to salvaged materials and historical documentation in pursuit of social and environmental justice.
In the summer of 2023, Conway Architectural Salvage and Heritage Project was incorporated as a nonprofit, and a board of directors was established. To launch as a grassroots, community-driven project, the organization relied on local support and connections built over the previous few years, including:
- Guidance from leaders of local communities and nonprofits, such as the Whittemore Racepath Historical Society and Create Conway Inc.
- Collaboration with the owner of the local historic McIver-Shaw Lumber Co. and Old Icehouse property, located near downtown Conway
- Fundraising efforts for the first deconstruction project
- Engagement of Coastal Carolina University students and faculty in salvage and reuse projects, such as art installations, community garden structures, and historic materials processing
- On-the-ground deconstruction training provided by Re:Purpose Savannah
To date, this volunteer-powered community project has kept over 400 tons of historic building materials out of landfills and instead repurposed for the well-being of local communities. This is only the beginning. With the recent acquisition of the historic Old Icehouse property, Conway Architectural Salvage and Heritage Project is now located adjacent to the local historic McIver-Shaw Lumber Co. Soon, both properties will be revived as the base of operations for the nonprofit to provide access to salvaged materials for the general public, space for research into the architectural and lived histories of disassembled structures, workshops for the revival of traditional trade crafts, and cultivation of a community garden and arboretum to highlight commitment to people, place, and planet.
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Alan ToddExecutive DirectorAfter moving with his family to Conway, South Carolina, Alan became passionate about preserving building materials and trade crafts that would otherwise be lost to demolition due to the area’s rapid population growth. Studying the economic model of deconstruction implemented in Savannah, Georgia and other preservation-focused cities, Alan learned how to successfully replicate deconstruction in Horry County and established the Conway Architectural Salvage and Heritage Project. His life’s work comes together in this project, saving old-growth lumber from the landfills, archiving the histories of family homes, and reviving traditional building crafts. With the help of dedicated volunteers and community members, Alan is currently working with the City of Conway, multiple departments at Coastal Carolina University, and the Horry County Solid Waste Authority to implement a broad communal vision for the project.
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