This site uses cookies – More Information.
Stono Preserve Master Plan
![Illustrative drawing of Stono Preserve Master Plan at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative.jpg 1904w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-1536x1210.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-170x134.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-80x63.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-400x315.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-600x473.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-800x630.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-1200x945.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-illustrative-1600x1261.jpg 1600w)
In 1995, naturalist John Henry Dick bequeathed the historic Stono Preserve property to the College of Charleston Foundation. Before his death, Dick placed a conservation easement on the property with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust to protect its pristine 881 acres from future development. Ayers Saint Gross developed a comprehensive master plan to guide the restoration of the natural setting to create a conservationist’s classroom for the college. The master plan creates a living laboratory for students of multiple disciplines — from marine biology to forest management to historic preservation.
The plan honors the diverse ecology of the site. It preserves landscapes and vernacular structures and recommends educational and visitor facilities of minimal footprints on designated buildable sites. Trails follow guidelines for accessibility without compromising the existing terrain and habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife, using existing roads, the live oak allée, and a meandering connector path.
![Water view at Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail.jpg 2162w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-1536x1066.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-2048x1421.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-170x118.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-80x56.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-400x278.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-600x416.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-800x555.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-1200x833.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-naturetrail-1600x1110.jpg 1600w)
![Stono Barn at Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn.jpg 2132w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-1536x1081.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-2048x1441.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-170x120.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-80x56.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-400x281.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-600x422.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-800x563.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-1200x844.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-barn-1600x1126.jpg 1600w)
![John Henry Dick Studio at Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio.jpg 2139w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-1536x1077.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-2048x1436.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-170x119.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-80x56.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-400x281.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-600x421.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-800x561.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-1200x842.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-studio-1600x1122.jpg 1600w)
The team championed the concept of the site as an environmental laboratory, developed the master plan, and implemented the nature trail, its interpretative signage system, a meeting barn, and renovated John Henry Dick studio.
![Stono Barn at Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-1050x1536.jpg 1050w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-1400x2048.jpg 1400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-96x140.jpg 96w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-55x80.jpg 55w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-273x400.jpg 273w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-410x600.jpg 410w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-547x800.jpg 547w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-820x1200.jpg 820w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20567_00_N17_web-1094x1600.jpg 1094w)
![Nature trail signage at Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-1029x1536.jpg 1029w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-1373x2048.jpg 1373w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-94x140.jpg 94w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-54x80.jpg 54w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-268x400.jpg 268w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-402x600.jpg 402w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-536x800.jpg 536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-804x1200.jpg 804w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-signage-1072x1600.jpg 1072w)
Interpretive signage at key vistas teach students and visitors about natural and historic features, including archaeological sites and native Lowcountry habitats. With lightness and simplicity, the signs balance information with quiet, site-appropriate design.
![Dusk view of studio at Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview.jpg 2242w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-2048x1370.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-170x114.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-80x54.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-400x268.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-600x401.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-800x535.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-1200x803.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stono-MasterPlan-longview-1600x1070.jpg 1600w)
![Dusk image of landscape and barn of Stono Preserve at College of Charleston](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1_M_Stono-MasterPlan-header.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1_M_Stono-MasterPlan-header-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1_M_Stono-MasterPlan-header-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1_M_Stono-MasterPlan-header-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1_M_Stono-MasterPlan-header-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1_M_Stono-MasterPlan-header-800x600.jpg 800w)
Stono Preserve provides the College of Charleston’s urban campus with access to a natural Lowcountry waterfront setting for research and experiential learning. The plan serves as a model for a purposeful and sustainable satellite campus, upholding the institutional mission in times of shrinking resources and space on core campuses.