Site Address: 361 Robert Smalls Pkwy, Beaufort, South Carolina, 29906
Project Overview
When ALDI selected Beaufort, South Carolina for a new ground-up store, the goal was to introduce Version 7.0 of ALDI’s national store prototype within a coastal community known for its strong architectural identity and thoughtful design review process.
APD was awarded the project in 2022 to adapt the prototype to the city’s expectations around frontage, transparency, materials, and streetscape
character — ensuring the store fit seamlessly into Beaufort’s visual context while maintaining ALDI’s operational efficiency and branding.
The store officially opened to the community on October 30, 2025.
From early design coordination to final documentation, the work centered on aligning ALDI’s program with Beaufort’s vision for a welcoming, visually engaging retail presence.
Scope of Services
APD provided comprehensive architectural design, construction documentation, and permitting support for the ALDI Beaufort store.
Our team:
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- Adapted Version 7.0 of ALDI’s national store prototype to meet site conditions in a high-wind (140+ mph), high-seismic (Class D) region
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- Developed a fully coordinated construction document (CD) set from prototype adaptation through bidding
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- Supported the municipality approval process with coordination with the City of Beaufort and its design review board
Due to its coastal location, the project required design solutions for significantly high wind speeds, which influence many structural and architectural decisions in the region. The site also carried seismic risk, requiring seismic-specific detailing to ensure full compliance with local performance criteria and ALDI’s prototype standards.
APD also integrated a series of enhanced, non-prototypical design features to align with Beaufort’s design expectations, including:
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- A custom 20′ × 200′ steel pergola along the primary frontage
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- Angled parapets, pilasters, watertables, and cornices for exterior articulation
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- Alternate exterior cladding materials compatible with the local architectural character
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- Additional structural steel (columns, girts, cross-bracing) for wind and seismic design
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- An extensive glazing strategy blending real and false windows to support transparency goals
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- Raised parapets to screen rooftop units
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- Internal roof drains and post-mounted electrical meters coordinated with façade conditions
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- A raised dock structure with full screening
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- Light sconces at each pilaster for safety and consistent nighttime rhythm
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- A reconfigured ancillary layout that supported façade composition while preserving ALDI’s operational flow
The result was a highly coordinated, buildable set of documents that transitioned smoothly from design to construction with minimal field questions.
Designer Insight
VANESSA BANKS NCARB
Architect
This project showcased the best of iterative, detail-driven design. Vanessa led the architectural effort from concept through permitting and construction documentation, carefully refining the exterior expression and technical solutions based on feedback from both ALDI and the City of Beaufort.
“This store quickly became one of the most complex, yet rewarding, projects of my career. With ALDI’s smaller footprint, the minimum street frontage wasn’t possible — so we designed a 200-foot steel pergola the Design Review Board called ‘one of the most creative solutions’ they’d seen. Between the pergola, façade and glazing variations, and coordinating both corporate and local requirements, it became the most detailed set of plans I’ve ever produced.”
— Vanessa Banks, NCARB, Architect
Key Design Drivers
The Beaufort store wasn’t a straightforward prototype application — it was shaped by a clear set of design objectives and community priorities:
- Engaging, Pedestrian-Friendly Frontage
The city places strong emphasis on welcoming, visually active frontages. This required:
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- A clearly defined architectural presence along Robert Smalls Parkway
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- A thoughtful approach to canopy design and façade rhythm
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- A balance between local context and ALDI’s operational needs
- A Canopy That Works for Everyone
ALDI needed functional weather-protected cart storage but the city wanted an open, visually expressive frontage element. The canopy therefore had to perform both architecturally and operationally — leading to the signature pergola solution.
- Transparency & Façade Rhythm
The city sought a strong sense of transparency and perceived activity, even on elevations that traditionally support back-of-house functions. Any solution needed to:
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- Maintain ALDI’s operational layout
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- Create a consistent exterior rhythm
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- Support the city’s design vision
These priorities informed each iteration of the design.
APD’s Solution
A Signature 200-Foot Steel Pergola
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- APD designed a custom steel pergola that became the defining architectural feature of the project. It:
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- Establishes a strong visual presence
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- Enhances the pedestrian experience
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- Supports covered circulation and cart storage
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- Earned praise from the Design Review Board as “one of the most creative solutions” to a restrictive frontage guideline
A Tailored Transparency Strategy
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- To honor both operational efficiency and community expectations, APD crafted a façade solution using a blend of real and false windows with integrated lighting, creating the appearance of consistent transparency while preserving the store’s established interior flows.
Prototype Fidelity, Locally Tuned
- Despite significant exterior enhancements, Version 7.0 of ALDI’s national store prototype remained intact:
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- ALDI’s footprint, customer circulation, and back-of-house workflows were preserved
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- Every exterior refinement was coordinated back through the CDs
- The store reflects both ALDI’s brand and the local architectural character.
Outcome
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- Project Awarded: 2022
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- Design + Documentation Completed: 2024, in collaboration with the City of Beaufort
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- Store Opening: October 30, 2025
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- Minimal field questions during construction
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- The 3D renderings are nearly exact to the actual building
What this Project Means to APD
Beaufort demonstrates APD’s ability to deliver national retail prototypes in design-conscious markets — a capability that strengthens our portfolio and builds trust with our clients.
It highlights our technical depth in high-wind and seismic environments, our coordination across building systems, and our commitment to community-centered design. Projects like this reinforce APD’s position as a partner who can navigate local review processes, maintain prototype fidelity, and support successful openings from concept to construction.
