October 14, 2026

Rather than demolishing and replacing Charleston’s century-old Low Battery seawall, the team developed an approach that retained the wall base where possible and transferred loads to new micropile underpinning. Crews restored the wall in 100-ft segments. Driving conventional piles would have required large cranes, expanded the footprint and risked damage to nearby historic homes. Instead, micropiles preserved part of the old wall, generated less noise and vibration and eliminated the need for a costly cofferdam.

Originally built between 1909 and 1919, the wall had deteriorated from age, storms and material degradation. This $64-million project strengthened the seawall with glass fiber-reinforced polymer and the new foundation, which was designed to accommodate additional height against future storm events and sea level rise. In the saltwater of Charleston Harbor, the team used GFRP reinforcement for the wall’s more susceptible areas. The project also raised and widened the promenade, improved pedestrian routes, added ADA-compliant access points, traffic-calming measures and rebuilt drainage and water quality systems to modern standards.

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