GOOD NEWS: Ports Authority celebrates new headquarters in Mount Pleasant

Staff reports  |  The S.C. Ports Authority last week celebrated the dedication of a new 80,000-square-foot headquarters building at the Wando Welch Terminal.  

“The port’s new headquarters offers a single, modern campus for employees with direct access to our biggest operating terminal, the Wando Welch,” said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. “The building design provides a open floor plan to support cross-functional internal communications, allowing our team to better collaborate and serve the needs of our customers and stakeholders.”

The building consolidates approximately 160 employees working from multiple office locations in the Charleston area. The building design features a glass atrium in the lobby extending up all four floors and a terrazzo floor pattern depicting the Charleston peninsula and waterways. Artwork throughout the building is provided by local artists.

The headquarters also includes an on-site fitness center and ¾ mile walking trail surrounding the building campus, on-site primary care and occupational health services provided by MUSC Health, a cafeteria and sit-to-stand desks in all employee workstations and offices.

The building’s numerous sustainability benefits include an energy monitoring system to optimize usage, low-flow plumbing fixtures, high performance glazing on the windows and external sun shades, a high-efficiency HVAC system and components, and high-efficiency LED lighting.

In other Good News:

Airport bonds.  The Charleston County Aviation Authority has successfully placed $64.7 million in new bonds, the net proceeds of which will be used to support a 3,000-space parking garage that will cost $88 million, according to a press release.

Red Dress Sunday.  February may offer the start of a new local tradition — a Sunday in February at multiple houses of worship in the area in which congregations are encouraged to wear red to bring attention to heart disease.  They’ll also learn about risk factors, ways to live a heart-healthy lifestyle and more. More.

Big grant.  Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative has received $150,000 from StriveTogether, a national nonprofit working to bring communities together around data to make decisions and improve results for children.  According to a press release, TCCC will use the grant funds – in partnership with Father to Father Inc., Metanoia and Trident United Way – to ensure that the region’s students are ready for kindergarten by aligning organizations, individuals and resources and committing to a shared vision.

Pay equity.  Women leaders at the Statehouse are pushing measures to require pay equity at the workplace, according to Lindsay Street in our sister publication, Statehouse Report.

Gun reform.  Lawmakers are trying again for some gun reform in South Carolina as a Columbia legislators is pushing an assault weapons ban while Charleston Democratic Sen. Marlon Kimpson again is pushing to close the “Charleston loophole,” Statehouse Report says.