American College of the Building Arts is an educational institution in Charleston, SC. As the only accredited four-year college in the United States to offer degrees in blacksmithing, timber framing, carpentry, plaster, stone carving, and classical architecture, it provides specialized professional training. The institution serves students dedicated to mastering the traditional building trades through a unique curriculum.
The college integrates professional training in the building arts with a liberal arts core curriculum, allowing students to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science degree. The academic approach combines humanistic traditions, such as history and English, with practical disciplines including math, science, and construction management. Students engage in hands-on learning through apprentice labs, utilizing tools like anvils, chisels, and trowels to master crafts such as architectural stone, architectural carpentry, and blacksmithing. The program is designed to develop the creative thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for artisans to preserve architectural heritage.
Located on Meeting Street in Charleston, the college is situated near the Eric Cornelius Singleton II Park and is a short distance from Newmarket Creek.
The institution is recognized for its specialized academic programs that result in superior student competencies. It stands as a leading resource in higher education dedicated to the practice and promotion of the building arts, maintaining a high rating of 4.90 from its community.
The American College of the Building Arts provides essential training for the next generation of artisans in Charleston, SC.
Services: