Honor Tower is officially under construction. This 10-story observation tower at Unity Park has been years in the making and is expected to be complete in summer or fall 2025.
Located between what used to be two segregated parks (Mayberry Park + Meadowbrook Park), Honor Tower was designed by Endrestudio. The view from the top will offer panoramic views of downtown + the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Construction updates
It’s all about the climb
Updated in February 2025
Step by step, Honor Tower is taking shape. | Photos by the Greenville Journal
Step by step, Honor Tower is taking shape. | Photos by the Greenville Journal
Step by step, Honor Tower is taking shape. | Photos by the Greenville Journal
Step by step, Honor Tower is taking shape. | Photos by the Greenville Journal
Step by step, Honor Tower is taking shape. | Photos by the Greenville Journal
The Honor Tower at Unity Park is climbing towards its opening this year. The latest milestone: 352 stairs that will bring visitors to its 99-foot-high observation deck are currently being installed.
Once complete, there will be 22 staircases + 20 landings in a double-helical design (think: like a DNA molecule) that keep ascending and descending traffic separate — a very intentional design choice by the architect Paul Endres of Endrestudio.
Though designed by the California-based architect, they were crafted in the Upstate by The Heirloom Companies — the same team that made the UNITY sign and the park’s signature picnic shelters.
Taking shape
Updated in August 2024
SC Steel, a manufacturer located in Taylors, delivered two tower structures that were stacked to created Honor Tower’s support.
The structure will not be visible when the tower is complete, but it will support the elevator, stairs, observation deck, and the mechanical platforms.
By the numbers
- 125 feet. That’s how tall Honor Tower will be when built, with an observation deck at 99 feet.
- 75,000 pounds. That’s how much steel will be used to build the tower, which is the equivalent of 18 Ford F-150s. SC Steel — a Taylors-based manufacturer — says it fabricated 84 tons.
- ~3 miles. That’s the total length of aluminum slats that will be used for the tower’s exterior.
- 250,000 pounds. That’s how much the tower will weigh. While that seems like a lot, it’s only 10 pounds per sqft per level which makes it relatively light.
- 176. That’s how many steps there will be to the top. There will also be an elevator made of glass for accessibility while also providing riders with the same inside views as the climbers.
The area around the tower will feature gardens and a plaza, where the city plans to host ceremonies and memorials.
How it’s funded
The full funding for the ~$11 million tower was secured in December 2022:
- $5.5 million came from private donations.
$3.5 million came from the local accommodations tax.
The City collects a local 3% tax on hotel and motel charges within Greenville’s city limits, and state law says a portion of that revenue must be spent on tourism-related items.
$1 million came from the hospitality tax.
The City collects a 2% tax on food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) sold in the city limits and the funds must be used for tourism-related activities and improvements.
- $1 million came from Unity Park construction savings.
