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Built as a conference and convention center in the 1980s, its appearance was "clearly tired," said Brown, the resort's director of plant services.
"The facility was just not up to par with the program," Brown said. "It was not up to the reputation of the business."
To fix that, the resort is extensively renovating its 4-acre campus in Shipyard Plantation on the south end of Hilton Head Island.
Among other changes, resort officials plan to build a new pool and on-site lodging for guests, who currently stay in cottages and villas elsewhere in the community, Brown said.
Interior work has already occurred in some buildings, and a two-story office building has been demolished.
The renovations will occur in three phases.
The first phase, which should be completed by January, will include renovating the front and north entrances and building a new pool and spa.
The resort is finishing plans for the second phase, which will include the accommodations, to be called Carolina Lodge, and a new spa services center. Work is scheduled to begin next year.
The final phase is planned to include renovating the dining room and main kitchen and building an upgraded cooking-demonstration center.
Resort officials plan to work around guests' schedules to avoid disruptions, Brown said.
They also plan to make the renovations environmentally friendly by doing the following:
• Build steps, decks and fencing with recycled and reclaimed plastic and reclaimed wood.
• Heat the pool and spa with a geothermal system that will use free, renewable energy.
• Filter the pool and spa with a mineral system that will not require harsh chemicals.
Combined, the changes should help the center's appearance measure up to its programs, Brown said.
"We want a facility that's comparable with the program," he said.
OTHER BUSINESSES
Other recent business openings, closings and changes in the area:
• Leslie Rohland, whose Bluffton Muffin Co. sold baked goods at the town's farmers market last year, plans to open a new business this month.
Rohland plans to serve breakfast and lunch and afternoon tea from a historic building on Calhoun Street called The Cottage.
Rohland said the structure, built in 1898 by a Confederate solider, has served as office space and was most recently an artist's studio.
Rohland, also vice president of The Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island, hopes to emphasize the history of the building by cooking with heirloom recipes. She also plans to use antique bakery cases from Savannah and antique chalkboards from an old Ohio schoolhouse.
WHAT IS ABOUT TOWN?
As you drive around southern Beaufort County, you notice a sign for a new shop, new construction or road work. Or you realize that an old store you once frequented has gone out of business. About Town answers the question, "What's going on here?"
If you have information about something that has changed the local landscape or if you wonder about one of those changes and would like us to tell you more about it, contact reporter Josh McCann at jmccann@islandpacket.com or 843-706-8145.
