For Nadine Dorrington, Aiken was never meant to be a passing stop.
After years of traveling and building a life in Michigan, she and her husband made a deliberate choice to start over somewhere that felt different, somewhere that felt right. What they found in Aiken was more than a destination. It was a place worth investing in fully.
“We did it big here for Aiken,” Dorrington said. “It was a devotion and a full investment.”
That devotion is taking shape in the form of The Sanctuary, Integrity Temple’s current luxury residential project, a remarkable equestrian estate tucked into Aiken’s landscape. Yet for Dorrington, Founder and Creative Director of Integrity Temple, the project is about far more than square footage or craftsmanship. It is a love letter to the place she now calls home.
Founded in 2023, Integrity Temple specializes exclusively in custom, luxury equestrian residences. The company reflects Dorrington’s lifelong fascination with how people live within spaces and how thoughtful design can improve everyday life.
A graduate of Michigan State University with a background in merchandising management, Dorrington spent years renovating homes while raising her children. Each project sharpened her eye for functionality, details and quality. Later, she earned a master’s certificate from Clemson University in integrated project delivery, bringing a sophisticated understanding of large-scale construction to every endeavor.
“My superpower is identifying things that are wrong,” Dorrington said with a laugh.
That attention to detail is evident throughout The Sanctuary, a 12.7-acre property featuring a 5,633-square-foot main residence and a guest cottage. Every element has been thoughtfully considered, from specialty roofing systems to premium materials sourced to withstand time and climate.
Still, she is quick to point out that Integrity Temple is not a one-woman operation.
Her closest collaborators are Project Manager and Creative Executive Nicolle Malpartida and Director of Finance and Administration Nicolette Fazio. Together, the trio has created a company culture rooted in excellence, accountability and mutual respect.
“She is as integrated into Integrity Temple as we are,” Dorrington said of Fazio, who oversees licensing, payroll, insurance, taxes and administration.
Malpartida has been equally instrumental, helping to source materials, coordinate manufacturers and bring Dorrington’s ambitious vision to life. Their partnership began years ago when Malpartida served as Dorrington’s personal assistant. Today, she is an essential force behind every Integrity Temple project.
The team is supported by Davis Custom Homes founder Seth Davis, who partnered with Integrity Temple under a unique hybrid arrangement and provided the licensing and technical expertise necessary to execute the project.
While Integrity Temple is producing some of the region’s most distinctive luxury homes, Dorrington believes the true measure of success lies elsewhere.
Throughout construction, she has remained deeply committed to the people building alongside her.
“Some of the hardest working people have very little recognition for what they do,” Dorrington said. “They deserve respect.”
That philosophy influences everything from contractor relationships to job site culture. Workers are greeted by name. Lunch is provided. Water is stocked during South Carolina’s hottest days. Leftover materials are often shared with laborers building homes of their own.
Dorrington speaks passionately about the trades, particularly finish carpenters, whose craftsmanship she reveres. She believes tradespeople deserve the same dignity and opportunities afforded to any other profession.
That belief inspired Integrity Temple’s partnership with Aiken Technical College to establish a multi-year scholarship for students entering trade programs. The company awarded its first scholarship this year.
“The professions are aging out,” Dorrington said. “You can build a wonderful life in the trades and support a family without carrying the debt of a four-year degree.”
Integrity Temple’s impact extends beyond scholarship funding. Through The Sanctuary alone, the company has partnered with countless businesses across Aiken, Augusta, Columbia and Charlotte. Local electricians, septic installers, lumber suppliers, artists and craftsmen have all contributed to the project, creating a ripple effect throughout the Carolinas.
For Integrity Temple, that community investment matters.
“There’s something special here,” she said. “I believe cities are energy centers, and I think the energy here is higher.”
Ask Dorrington why she chose Aiken, and the answer comes quickly: the horses.
A lifelong equestrian, she boards at New Bridge Polo & Country Club and competes with her jumpers throughout the region. But somewhere between Hitchcock Woods, Stable View and afternoons downtown, Aiken became more than a destination.
“It isn’t where I fit in,” Dorrington said. “It’s where I belong.”
That sense of belonging continues to shape Integrity Temple’s future. In five years, Dorrington hopes the company will be completing its fourth luxury equestrian project while continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible in Aiken.
She also hopes to see more horses in town.
“The closer to town horses can be, the better,” she said.
For now, though, The Sanctuary stands as a testament to one family’s belief in Aiken and a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful investments are not measured in dollars at all, but in the places and people we choose to call home.
For Dorrington, every completed project represents more than a successful build. It is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a community she believes is on the cusp of national recognition. As more people discover Aiken’s unique blend of equestrian culture, Southern hospitality and small-town charm, she hopes Integrity Temple will continue to contribute thoughtfully to its story. After all, she and her husband could have chosen anywhere. Instead, they chose Aiken, and in return, Aiken has become part of who they are.
That relationship, she believes, is the foundation upon which every meaningful legacy is ultimately built.
“We did it big here for Aiken,” Dorrington said. “It was a devotion and a full investment.”
Integrity Temple
1908 Richland Avenue West
Aiken, SC 29801
www.integritytemple.com