“S” is for Simons and Lapham

“S” is for Simons and Lapham. The Charleston architectural firm of Simons and Lapham was formed in 1920 by Albert Simons (1890-1980) and Samuel Lapham (1892 to 1972). Simons studied at the College of Charleston, the University of Pennsylvania and in Paris. Lapham graduated from the College of Charleston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the 1920s Simons and Lapham were busy with commissions for new houses and restorations. The firm consulted on the restoration of Charleston's famous Rainbow Row. In addition to restoring downtown houses the two worked actively with the Charleston city government to protect historic buildings. In the 1930s both partners worked extensively with the federally-sponsored Historic American Building Survey. Simmons and Lapham received both local and national acclaim for their work in the areas of architectural design and preservation.