Columbia Regional Business Report - September 2023 by SC Biz News

VOLUME 16 NUMBER 9 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

Part of the

network

the forever business

A new requirement for this most recent set of acquisitions by the Columbia Museum of Art was to support and promote artists of color, women artists and members of other minority groups. Page 6

Columbia Under Construction Catch up on the variety of constrution projects in and around the city. Page 17

SEPTEMBER 2023 ■ $2.25

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE

Residential prices increasing, annual sales down Days on Market over 5 years Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

he residential housing market for the first six months of 2023 continues a trend of fewer closings and higher prices across South Carolina, according to data from the S.C. Realtors Association. That data follows figures from 2022 when the number of homes sold was down by 12.5% from 2021 but the average sales price was up 12.6% for the year, said the S.C. Realtors’ Housing Market Report 2022. In 2022, home prices hit a sales price of more than $393,865 on average and a median price of $315,000. The highest median home prices were in the Hilton Head market, where homes sold for a median price of $485,000. The Charleston Trident market came in second highest with a meidan home price of $398,810. The lowest median home price was in the Central Carolina market, which

includes Orangeburg, Calhoun, Bamberg, Clarendon, Barnwell and Lexington counties with an average median price of $189,900. Across the state, four out of 16 markets reported median home prices above the statewide average for 2022. Residential inventory for sale, which was a problem before the pandemic caused chaos in all areas of the economy, was down nearly 39% in 2020 and anther 32.5% in 2021. End of year inventory showed a significant bounce back in 2022 with a 67.4% increase with 19,181 homes up for sale. Residential real estate also sold faster last year than any time during the past five years, the Realtor’s association reported. In 2022, homes stayed up for sale an average of 48 days, which is down an average of two days from the year before, but down from 76 days in 2020.

Average DOM 48 50 76 79 81

% Change

-4.00% -34.20% -3.80% -2.50% -4.50%

End of Year Inventory over 5 years Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

Homes for sale 19,181 11,455 17,000 27,693 26,950

% Change

67.40% -32.60% -38.60% 2.80% 1.30%

Source: SC Realtors

Average home sale prices over 5 years

Annual residential closings across SC

South Carolina’s average home price went up by more than 12% from 2021 to 2022, but the state actually saw fewer closings from the previous year.

Closings of homes hit a five-year high in 2021 after a post-pandemic bounce from 2020. However, that number dropped by more than 12% in 2022, annual data show.

$400,000

$130,000 +12.6%

$300,000

+15.8% +17.7%

$200,000

+5.6%

$120,000

+3.7%

+15.1%

$100,000 $90,000

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Sources: SC Realtors, Annual Report on the South Carolina Housing Market 2022

ON THE

RECORD

+12.5%

$110,000

$100,000

Trend continues

From January to June, closings are down 19.2% statewide and median home prices are up 3.6% compared to 2022.

$80,000

+4.5% 2018

-12.5%

+5.1% 2019

2020

2021

2022

Sources: SC Realtors, Annual Report on the South Carolina Housing Market 2022

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Clemson students have developed a self-driving vehicle that can move into disaster areas to collect data in real time, (Image/Clemson University)

Clemson

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Clemson University students debut off-road vehicle for disaster missions

o expedite the delivery of supplies and gather real-time data in disaster areas, Clemson University students at the International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville have developed an off-road reconnaissance and relief vehicle that can navigate all on its own. Equipped with lidars, cameras and high-accuracy GPS, the autonomous vehicle can sense and navigate on unknown terrain. The vehicle can reach 45 mph, scale 18-inch high obstacles, maneuver 60% grade surfaces and pivot 360 degrees in place in two seconds, according to a university news release. Its adaptable series-hybrid powertrain allows for powerful maneuverability and improved fuel economy as well as silent travel in electric-only mode. When the vehicle arrives at its destination, it can deliver emergency supplies and act as a mobile generator in case of electricity disruptions without putting humans in harm’s way.

North Charleston

Columbia Regional Business Report

North Charleston distillery distributes whiskey statewide for the first time

irefly Distillery has expanded availability of its most premium spirit, Bend & Steal American Whiskey. Previously an exclusive product at the North Charleston distillery, the award-winning blended whiskey now can be purchased at more than 100 retailers throughout the state. “We crafted Bend & Steal American Whiskey as a tribute to hardworking folks everywhere,” Scott Newitt, co-founder of Firefly Distillery, said in a news release. “I’m particularly excited to be expanding distribution throughout the state of South Carolina, allowing more enthusiasts to get a taste of this perfectly balanced whiskey.” Winner of the Gold Medal in the 2023 Ascot Awards, Bend & Steal has grown in popularity since its initial release in early 2021, the company said in the news release. The whiskey gets its name from the process of “stealing” bits from the best barrels in the country and “bending” them with Firefly barrels to create a balanced whiskey. A tribute to the art of distilling, aging and perfecting whiskey, each design element of the bottle label highlights the process and tools that bring spirits to life. With publications in the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina. Above are excerpts from our other publications.

GSABusinessReport.com

CharlestonBusiness.com

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SEPTEMBER 11

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/ CONSTRUCTION List: General Contractors, Architecture Firms Special Section: Under Construction Advertising Deadline: August 28

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List: Manufacturing Companies, Aerospace Companies Advertising Deadline: October 2

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List: Restaurants, Restaurants with Banquet Facilities Advertising Deadline: November 6

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Scout Motors has now hired more than a dozen employees in South Carolina for the new manufacturing facility in Blythewood. (Rendering/Provided)

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Scout Motors names new chief production officer, begins local hiring

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cout Motors Inc. has named Jan Spies as its chief production officer effective early 2024. In this role, Spies will lead manufacturing of Scout Motors’ all-purpose, all-electric truck and SUC slated for production by the end of 2026 and oversee the launch of its new manufacturing facility in Blythewood, according to a news release. The company also announced it has oﬃcially started local hiring, the release said. “Jan is the ideal leader to turn the ambitious vision of Scout Motors into a reality,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Scout Motors. “His vast experience and visionary approach to production management will be invaluable as we establish world-class manufacturing operations. Additionally, the initiation of hiring for our South Carolina facility marks an exciting milestone as we work towards building a dynamic team that will help us shape the future of all-electric

transportation.” Spies is a veteran automotive production expert who has more than 20 years’ experience at the Volkswagen Group, providing him with Spies extensive knowledge of plant operations, according to the release. He has developed multiple flagship projects including the Volkswagen Group of America’s manufacturing campus in Chattanooga, Tenn., which opened in 2011 and now produces more than 250,000 vehicles annually. Since 2019, he has served as head of planning and production technology for Volkswagen AG, and he has held multiple other production leadership roles in the past. He holds a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Scout Motors has now hired more than a dozen employees in South Caro-

lina for the new manufacturing facility in Blythewood. Recent leadership hires include Punam Patel as South Carolina liaison, Corey Epps as HR director and Wendy Bashnan as director of security and fire protection. Patel previously worked in external aﬀairs for MUSC Health and served on South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster’s AccelerateSC COVID-19 response team. Epps joins Scout Motors after more than 23 years at BMW’s manufacturing facility in Greer. Bashnan led security for Nielsen and spent more than 28 years with the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State. Scout is currently hiring for more than 20 South Carolina-based open roles in production, supply chain, information technology and administration. Current career opportunities can be found on the company’s careers page. Potential candidates can indicate their interest in future manufacturing positions by submitting their information at scoutmotors. sctechjobs.com.

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Skin care startup goes for something new in Five Points By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

new upscale skin care spa with a do-it-yourself twist has opened in Columbia’s Five Points district. The Skinhouse at 2000 Blossom St. is the newest venture for owners Brooke and Paul Gellici of Columbia. Brooke Gellici is an aesthetician with more than 10 years’ experience who specializes in custom facials. For the past six years, she has been the owner and operator of another skin care spa, The Beautique Skin Co. Her newest venture in Five Points oﬀers

clients the option of receiving traditional facials and other services or of taking part in an immersive, DIY experience patterned after a skin care spa Gellici saw on a trip to Paris. “The Skinhouse offers the option of social, interactive skin care that is different than our original spa on Whaley Street,” Gellici told SC Biz News. “This option at The Skinhouse gives clients the chance to learn about skin care and how to do it yourself.” The Skinhouse’s immersive option will pair clients with staff members called “Skintenders” — a name that Gellici is seeking to trademark — who will work with the clients to create a personalized skin care regimen.

The grand opening of The Skinhouse was celebrated Aug. 25. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

Nephron Pharmaceuticals appoints new chief of staff

ephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. has named Morgan Nichols Scarnecchia its chief of staff. In her new role, Scarnecchia will implement strategic business initiatives, manage daily operations and work alongside owner and CEO Lou Kennedy in internal and external affairs. “As two women who grew up in Lexington, Morgan and I not only share a great passion for the life sciences, but also South Carolina and the Midlands,” Kennedy said in a news release. “She is a great addition to our strong female leadership here at Neph-

ron — and by working together, we will continue to drive Nephron forward.” Before joining the Nephron team, Scarnecchia was the director of corporate aﬀairs for KOR Medical, where she built and managed the start-up's key corporate accounts and communications for its various entities, according to the release. Scarnecchia has served as corporate affairs and investor relations manager at SCBIO, where she was responsible for board and investor communications and leading life sciences workforce initiatives like the association’s K-12 edu-

cation programs. She began her career at the biotechnology organization as its membership and marketing coordinator, recruiting life science companies and implementing new stakeholder engagement strategies. In 2019, Scarnecchia was crowned Miss South Carolina. During her reign, she traveled across South Carolina promoting Stronger With STEM, a personal initiative created to promote a 21st-century workforce in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Scarnecchia has a Bachelor of Science

in genetics from Clemson University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in biotechnology and business from Johns Hopkins University. Based in West Columbia, Nephron develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products. The company also operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes, luer-lock vials, IV bottles and IV bags for hospitals across America in an effort to alleviate drug shortage needs.

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September 2023

A work at right by artist Rodney McMillian joins the permanent collection at the Columbia Museum of Art. (Photo/Provided)

Columbia-born national artist now represented in his home museum By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

he work of a Columbia-born artist is now part of the collection at his hometown’s art museum thanks to the work of a dedicated group of Midlands art lovers. Two pieces by Rodney McMillian, a Columbia native who now is based in Los Angeles, went on display at the Columbia Museum of Art in early August. They are now part of the Museum’s permanent collection and are on display alongside works by Andy Warhol and others in the museum’s Contemporary Art Gallery on its second level. McMillian’s two works were unveiled at the museum in conjunction with his visit to Columbia in early August, which also included a special event where he discussed his work with members of the community, received a key to the city of Columbia from City Councilwoman Adita Bussells, and a resolution from State House Rep. Todd Rutherford McMillian, who was born in Irmo, works across a broad range of media including painting, sculpture and film. The CMA is the first museum in the Carolinas to acquire his work, found in many museum collections worldwide including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art and The Studio Museum in Harlem. The artworks are in Columbia thanks to the eﬀorts of the Contemporaries, a nonprofit aﬃnity group of the museum founded in 1994. Raising funds to acquire new artworks for the museum’s collection is one of the group’s main purposes, with

their past successes include the Dale Chihuly glass chandelier that is considered one of the museum’s centerpieces. “Our idea is not just to put something pretty on the wall, but to bring in art that is genuinely impactful for the community,” Contemporaries president Will Roberts told SC Biz News. “Our goal isn’t just collecting artwork, but bringing in artwork that moves the needle to get people to come to the museum and be excited about what the museum is doing.” Discussions about the group’s next acquisition for the museum started in late 2021, and after a series of votes McMillian was chosen. One requirement for this most recent set of acquisitions by the museum was to support and promote an artist of color, a woman artist or a member of another minority group. McMillian’s work especially fit the bill because of his Columbia roots and the themes of many of his artworks which address current social, political and cultural issues from his perspective and experience as an African American artist, Roberts said. In August of 2022, about 30 people from Columbia, including members of the Contemporaries and museum staﬀ, traveled to meet with McMillian at his Los Angeles studio and gallery. The scheduling was tight because the artist was about to travel to Switzerland at the time, but they managed to make it work. “He was totally blown away when we arrived that all these people from Columbia came to see him,” said Joelle RyanCook, deputy director and director of external aﬀairs for the CMA. “The energy level was so high and there was so much positivity coming from our end and his end — it was a very special experience.”

Artist Rodney McMillian (Photo/Provided)

The Contemporaries and McMillian settled on three artworks for consideration, and after rounds of voting two were selected. One, “Twice Painted,” is an unusual still life of dark vases on a table painted against a dark background. The other, “Untitled (For Dr. Raegun McDonald-Mosely)” is a multi-colored abstract piece that features script along the bottom addressing inequity in health care, especially as experienced by Black women. Roberts said addressing topics such as racism in health care could be seen as controversial, but it’s part of the Contemporaries’ goal to bring in meaningful art. “We knew there was a possibility to open an incredible conversation, and so far the reception we have seen has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic,” he said. “Visitors

have really embraced both artworks.” The works will be on display at least until the Contemporaries’ annual membership event in mid-October. McMillian also announced that he plans to do a solo exhibit in Columbia in 2025. “I can’t emphasize how important it is for the museum to have an organization like the Contemporaries and the work of the board,” Ryan said. “We’re a small fulltime staﬀ of about 31 people and they bring such amazing enhancements to the museum through their energy, heart and enthusiasm. They work hard for us, and the end results are things like this. Museums are in the forever business and the Contemporaries are responsible for telling forever stories. This shows what volunteerism and philanthropic work can accomplish.”

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September 2023

Future of landmark Columbia music venue is uncertain By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

he future of one of Columbia's last landmark live music venues could be up in the air. The building that houses the New Brookland Tavern, located at 122 State St. in West Columbia, is up for sale and that means the club’s location may change, according to owner Mike Lyons. Lyons told SC Biz News he received notice from the building’s owner about a month ago that the building was going to be listed. Since then, Lyons said, he’s been talking the situation over with staff and trying to make decisions about whether to attempt to buy the site or move to another location. “The most important thing is that whatever happens, New Brookland Tavern survives,” Lyons said. “It can’t go away.” New Brookland Tavern has been a popular draw for national touring acts and a mecca for local and regional bands. The club regularly draws bands from a wide variety of genres including indie and alternative rock, punk and metal. Many popular national acts performed at the venue on their way to larger national attention. The venue has a gritty yet comfortable atmosphere and an intimate feel that allows bands to relate directly with fans. New Brookland is also the last venue standing from Columbia’s earlier burgeoning live music scene of the 1990s. Other landmarks such as Greenstreet’s, Elbow Room and Rockafella’s are long gone. The building has been a treasured hangout for West Columbia locals since at least the 1980s and possibly earlier, with previous incarnations

The last remaining venue of the 1990s music scene in Columbia may be looking for a new home unless the club owner buys the property. (Photo/Carlin Thompson)

as a deli and tavern. Its life as a live music venue started around the late 1990s, Lyons said. He worked at the club before purchasing it in 2004. A GoFundMe effort to save the club has already raised more than $26,000. Funds raised through the effort could be used to purchase the existing building and renovate it or to make the move to a new location, Lyons said. Carlin Thompson, who works as the club’s sound engineer and also books most of the acts, said a new

location could be an option that would help New Brookland stay competitive. Many music venues in the area currently have a capacity of 550 people or more while New Brookland’s is 250. The existing building needs renovations, including a new air conditioning system and new pipes, Thompson said. Whatever the owners choose to do, the announcement has brought an outcry from local supporters of the Columbia music scene as well as fans

and performers from elsewhere. “There’s been a lot of support from people here as well as multiple national touring bands who have performed here — all of them have donated and people are talking about having fundraisers to support the club,” Thompson said. “Many people are worried they’re going to lose New Brookland Tavern because it’s a place that has always been there for them. We’re seeing the kids of our original supporters coming out to see shows these days and people want to make sure the club will still exist.” Concerts at the New Brookland Tavern will continue as planned for now, Lyons said. In the meantime, he’s overwhelmed with the number of people reaching out to make sure that the New Brookland Tavern will carry on, whether at its current location or a new spot. “The support has been overwhelming, and I’ve frankly been choked up at a lot of what I’m hearing,” Lyons said. “It’s amazing to see how much this place means to so many people.” A GoFundMe eﬀort to save the club has already raised more than $26,000. Funds raised through the eﬀort could be used to purchase the existing building and renovate it or to make the move to a new location, according to information posted on the fundraising site. Carlin Thompson, who works as the club’s sound engineer and also books most of the acts, said a new location could be an option that would help New Brookland stay competitive. Many music venues in the area currently have a capacity of 550 people or more while New Brookland’s is 250. The building needs extensive renovations, including a new air conditioning unit and new pipes for the bathrooms.

Medical center purchases office building in Columbia

Staff Report

9,600-square-foot multi-tenant office building located at 5115 Forest Drive was recently sold to Lexington Medical Center. Crawford Prezioso of Colliers South Carolina represented Forest Oﬃce Plaza LLC in the sale. In addition to this oﬃce building, Lexington Medical Center has acquired adjacent properties at 5143 and 5133 Forest Drive totaling 2.92 acres, according to a news release. The strategic acquisition of these properties allows Lexington Medical Center to embark on a redevelopment project on the Forest Drive cor-

ridor. Plans are underway to construct a 20,000-square-foot facility that will serve as oﬃces for a family practice provider and an OB-GYN practice, according to the release. “Forest Acres is known for its friendly neighborhoods and array of premier shopping and dining,” Prezioso said. “This is a perfect location for Lexington Medical Center’s redevelopment project that will be a great asset to the community and surrounding areas.” Prezioso is a senior broker associate who represents owners, landlords, users and tenants in the leasing and sale of commercial properties throughout Columbia and central South Carolina.

In addition to an office building, Lexington medical Center has acquired properties at 5143 and 5133 Forest Drive. (Image/Provided)

September 2023

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Tru by Hilton hotel in Columbia’s Harbison area is sold By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

he Tru by Hilton Harbison Columbia, located at 271 Columbiana Drive, has been sold. Sycamore Investment Group sold the property for an undisclosed amount to APS Wheeler, according to a news release. APS Wheeler, based in Augusta, Ga., also owns multiple Dunkin Donuts locations in the region as well as other hotel properties. Mayank Patel, senior vice president of Hunter Hotel Advisors, arranged the sale on behalf of Sycamore, the release said. “We are pleased to announce this transaction on behalf of one of our long-standing clients,” Mayank Patel said in the release. “The True Harbison Columbia has exhibited tremendous RevPAR growth during the first half of 2023. As one of the newest Hilton products in the market, the Tru will continue to capitalize on its proximity to downtown Columbia, Fort Jackson and the University of South Carolina.” Built in 2018, the 85-room hotel oﬀers easy access to downtown Columbia, Lake Murray and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. “We have once again trusted Mayank and the Hunter team to execute anoth-

The Tru by Hilton Harbison hotel at 271 Columbiana Drive was recently purchased by a Georgia-based company. (Photo/Provided)

er transaction for us as we continue to implement our selective disposition strategy,” said Aashay Patel, president of Syc-

amore Investment Group. “This sale will allow us to provide an attractive return to our investors and allocate capital to build

upon our blueprint of developing premium hotel assets with exceptional growth potential.”

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September 2023

MTC president will retire from the institution that built him By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

hen Ronald L. Rhames enrolled as a student at Midlands Technical College in Columbia as a young man, he had no idea he was starting a relationship with the school that would eventually lead to a 35-year career and end up with him sitting in the president’s chair. Rhames, president of MTC since 2015, recently announced his plans to retire by late June of 2024. “After all these years, it’s time to step away and find another way to be engaged in life,” Rhames told SC Biz News recently. “Looking back on my time here, I have the satisfaction of the foundation I got from being a student here, and then the pleasure of the amazing career that I’ve enjoyed working here.” Rhames, who grew up in Columbia, has an associate degree in management from MTC, as well a business and economics degree from Benedict College, a master’s in administration from Central Michigan University and a doctorate of business administration from Nova Southeastern University. He worked in the banking industry and then became the chief financial officer at Claflin University in Orangeburg. He was working at Claflin when he was offered a job at MTC, where he first served as senior vice president and chief operating officer. It was the beginning of many years at the school that would eventually leave a lasting legacy. “As a student here I was a beneficiary of the quality of education we provided, so I know personally firsthand how we impact people’s lives,” Rhames said. “When I had the opportunity to join MTC as chief financial officer I couldn’t wait to jump at it. I recognized the extraordinary opportunity.” Rhames is passionate about MTC’s role in both guiding students to rewarding careers and helping generate much-needed employees for the rapidly growing industrial and business community in the Midlands and statewide. “Increasing our workforce initiatives is one of the clear successes I’ve seen as president,” he said. “We’re making sure we not

Ronald L. Rhames is proud of his role in many advancements during his tenure, including the technology center at the Beltline campus. (Rendering/Provided)

only nurture our students but also create new programs that really meet the needs of the area. One example is our new heavy equipment operations program, which is going to benefit the entire community as the area continues to grow and expand.” He also is proud of MTC’s recent $50 million investment in building new facilities, including the $14.5 million learning resource center and $4.5 million industrial technology facility with 64 welding stations on the Beltline campus, and a $5 million renovation of the advanced manufacturing center at the Airport Campus in West Columbia. Currently under construction is the $30 million Lindau Engineering Technology Center on the Beltline campus, slated to open in spring 2024. Rhames also is proud of MTC’s expanding role in workforce development, including expanded programs in specialty welding, plumbing, information technology and health care. He has a personal perspective on what technical colleges can do for the workforce. His niece, he said, was looking for a good job and recently found one after

completing a two-year degree in criminal justice at a technical school, and then a four-year degree at another institution. “Our schools provide an economic benefit to our students because they can attend and graduate with little or no debt, and when they graduate they can either go on to a four-year institution or immediately start contributing to society, raising families and buying houses,” he said. He is proud of the system’s history, and cites Harbison History Day as one of his proudest achievements. The event takes place annually in February at MTC’s Harbison campus, which was originally the location of the Harbison Institute. Founded in 1911, the institute oﬀered educational opportunities for Black students during segregation. When it closed in 1958, its 19 wooded acres and six buildings were donated to MTC by the Harbison Development Corp., according to information from MTC. “There are still some original graduates of that school and each year we bring them to campus to celebrate with us,” he said. “In February 2023 we had

a 100-year-old graduate of the original school who came back to campus to celebrate with us, and it’s a great, rewarding pleasure to see them and get to celebrate with them. One of my goals has been to preserve that campus’s history and continue to tell the story.” A unique element of Harbison History Day is the ringing of a bell that used to be rung to bring students in from work they were doing in nearby fields to help pay for their education, Rhames said. The bell was preserved and is now in a bell tower on the campus. As Rhames prepares to move on, he is proud to see that MTC and the state’s technical college system as a whole are “stronger than ever,” he said. “What we are doing here is more important than ever, and it’s also extremely flexible because here at MTC we are able to adjust and make changes to respond to the emerging economy and our students’ needs,” he said. “I am really proud of what our faculty and staﬀ have done here to embrace the need to develop the workforce and meet the needs of the community.”

New residential development coming to Lexington neighborhood Staff Report

new residential development is coming to an area off Carlen Avenue in Lexington. Colliers South Carolina’s Craig Waites recently brokered the sale of a 25.44.acre tract of land on Carlen Avenue. Waites represented the seller, Three Riv-

ers Land Development Group. The property will be developed into single-family detached units and townhomes within Lexington’s town borders through a partnership between Eastwood Homes and Landtech LLC, according to a news release. LandTech LLC of South Carolina is a private real estate development, marketing and management firm head-

quartered in Columbia that specializes in the development of family-friendly communities, the release said. Eastwood Homes is a privately held residential builder with more than 45 years of experience in home construction, currently serving communities in both Carolinas as well as Georgia and Virginia. The housing market in Lexington has seen steady growth and consis-

tent high demand in recent years with a notable increase in property values, according to information compiled by Colliers. The area around the Carlen Avenue site is a mix of suburban living and access to urban conveniences. Waites is a managing director at Colliers specializing in land brokerage, planning and the entitlement process.

September 2023

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 11

Maker of high-performance specialty film to expand Richland County operations By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

Chicago-based maker of specialty packaging films is expanding its operations in Richland County. Charter Next Generation is leasing a 210,600-square-foot speculative industrial building at 10741 Farrow Road, located in the Carolina Pines Industrial Park in Blythewood, according to a news release. The facility is located next door to CNG’s existing manufacturing operation and will serve to expand the company’s regional distribution footprint. CNG is North America’s leading independent producer of high-performance specialty film, flexible packaging solutions and other end-use products. The company has 1,900 employees at 14 facilities in 10 markets. Colliers South Carolina brokers Chuck Salley, Dave Mathews, Thomas Beard and John Peebles represented Collett Industrial in the lease, the release said. “It’s always a wonderful day and a testament to the County’s exceptional business climate when a speculative building secures a tenant,” said Jeﬀ Ruble, director of economic development for Richland County. “It’s doubly exciting when that tenant is an existing industry with established roots in our community.” Collett Industrial and its partner Humphreys Capital broke ground in the second quarter of 2022 and completed the building in the first quarter of 2023. The construction

Charter Next Generation has leased a spec building in the Carolina Pines Industrial Park for its manufacturing site. (Photo/Provided)

team included Matthews Construction serving as the site contractor, Vannoy Construction as the building contractor, MCA Architecture as the architect and Thomas & Hutton as the civil engineer. “We set out on every speculative project with the goal of attracting high caliber users exactly like CNG and we’re excited to assist in expanding their operation at Carolina Pines,” said Teddy Hull, principal at Collett Industrial. “We appreciate all the eﬀort and collaboration by CNG,

Colliers, Richland County and our entire construction team in bringing this project to fruition.” This lease takes the last available existing class A industrial space in all of central South Carolina, according to the release. The vacancy rate in the market is at record low of 2.4% and is 1.96% in the northeast Columbia submarket, according to statistics from Colliers South Carolina. “The need for the supply of industrial buildings in central South Caroli-

na is greater than ever,” Salley said. “The demand in our market is rapidly increasing and in order to serve expanding and new businesses in the area, the market will need to develop more properties to meet the need.” The Carolina Pines Industrial Park is also home to Belk Distribution Center, Intertape Polymer Group, Husqvarna Outdoor Products, Patterson Logistics Services, Amcor Rigid Plastics and more.

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In Focus

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION LISTS: General Contractors, Page 20 | Architecture Firms, Page 21

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: MANUFACTURING

Campus Village, a massive student housing development at the University of South Carolina that officially opened Aug. 18, is the is the largest construction project ever to be built at the university at a cost of $240 million, and is made up of four state-of-the art buildings that hold a total of 1,800 students at 1531 Whaley St. in the southern region of the campus. (Photo/Provided)

Campus Village designed with a different kind of living in mind By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

ome lucky freshmen at the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus started their college career living in a history-making student housing development. Forget the run-down, overcrowded and outdated dorms many people may remember from their college years. These first-year students are the first official residents of Campus Village, a massive student housing development that officially opened on Friday, Aug. 18. The opening came with a splashy ceremony that included speeches by school officials and appearances by USC cheerleaders, the marching band and even Cocky, the official mascot. Ribbons were cut under garnet and black balloon arches and visitors took tours of the new buildings. All of the celebration took place the day before most students officially moved into housing for the year. Why all this hullabaloo for the opening of a dorm? Maybe because the size and scale of Campus Village puts it in a different league than most campus housing, and because the construction project, which took years to conceive and cost $240 million is the largest in the university’s history. It’s a fitting time for such a large proj-

ect to launch, because USC welcomed its largest enrollment ever for the 2023-24 school year, with 7,344 new freshmen, an increase of 12% year over year. Overall enrollment is also the largest ever at more than 36,300 students, according to figures released Aug. 24. Campus Village is located at 1531 Whaley St., in the southern region of the campus near the former site of the Cliﬀ Apartments, and is made up of four stateof-the-art buildings that hold a total of 1,800 student residents. Planning for the complex took years of discussions with stakeholders both on- and oﬀ-campus, and the final design is the result of input from local residents, neighborhood groups and the City of Columbia’s Planning Department. Construction on the project launched in May 2019. USC partnered with Charleston-based real estate and development company Greystar, one of the nation’s largest developers of collegiate properties. Greystar also is going to assist with property management. Columbia-based architects Boudreaux partnered with WDG, a national leader in student housing, on the architectural and interior design as well as project planning. Columbia-based Contract Construction and Atlanta-based Juneau Construction handled the building. There were bumps in the road because

of the COVID-19 pandemic, but oﬃcials praised the fact the project still was completed on time. “We develop student housing all over the world and we have learned that student experience matters, so being able to build a living experience like this for freshmen is important,” said Bob Faith, Greystar’s founder, chairman and CEO. “This best-in-class, live-learn community supporting USC’s growing student body is a result of successful collaboration with university leadership, local residents, students and our design and construction partners.” The Village is impressive from first sight of the buildings’ exteriors. The six-story red brick masonry buildings are surrounded by plenty of greenspace, courtyards and walkways, and one sports an impressive clock tower that is quickly becoming one of the signature images of the new complex. While the new Village sports a wide variety of fancy and high-tech amenities that would have been alien to college students of just a decade or so ago, one of the project’s most important assets is what it will lend to campus life, according to USC President Michael Amiridis. “The impressive Campus Village complex reflects the growth and future potential of USC, addresses the needs of our students and further strengthens their

overall college experience,” said USC President Michael Amiridis. “We are committed to sustaining excellence and innovation here at USC, and campus living is a critical component of that. Here is where the success of our students begins.” Amiridis considers the dorm important not only because it is a record-breaker and game changer for the school, but also because of the impact students’ experiences there can have on their academic careers. He cited research which indicates that students who live on campus in college, particularly during the formative freshman year, tend to do better academically and have higher graduation rates. Research on the subject is ample and is increasingly quoted by college counselors and housing oﬃcials nationwide to urge more students to at least try out the dorm experience. One report, done by Alexander Astin, the founding director of the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California-Los Angeles, showed that campus living provides students with peer-group support and increases their involvement with campus life. Another study by the National Survey of Student Engagement indicated that freshmen who live on campus have better interactions with their fellow students than See IN FOCUS, Page 13

September 2023

IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION

Modern student housing is designed with more than a place to sleep in mind. Dormatory life is central to the student experience. (Rendering/Provided)

IN FOCUS, from Page 12

those who choose oﬀ-campus housing. The Campus Village project certainly pulls out all the stops when it comes to helping freshmen feel like part of a community. Each building features innovative study and classroom spaces, community kitchens and both suite and pod-style

room options. The Village also is home to several of USC’s student “living-learning communities.” These are living arrangements which allow students who are pursuing the same academic fields to attend classes together and live in the same physical community. Campus Village is home to these communities for information, design and com-

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 13

University offcials say a dorm’s design is important because students who live in them perform better academically. (Rendering/Provided)

puting, engineering and computing, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Village residents won’t be eating in the dreary campus dining halls of old. Instead, they have The Pavilion, a nearly 14,000-square foot dining hall that seats 650 supported by more than 10,000-square-feet of food prep and serving space. The all-you-can-eat selections

available include customizable pizza, Asian cuise, vegan and allergen-free options. The dining hall is open to all USC students, not just Village residents. Campus Village will also have retail options. The Gamecock General Store sundry shop, a Jimmy John’s sandwich See IN FOCUS, Page 14

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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION

Four, six-story red masonry buildings make up that make up Campus Village, with one sporting an impressive clock tower that is quickly becoming a signature landmark of the new complex. (Photo/Provided)

IN FOCUS, from Page 13

shop and Starbuck’s coﬀee will open later in the fall and be open to the entire community. While the Campus Villlage is the largest, it’s not the only massive student housing project to open at USC

in summer 2023. The Standard, an off-campus student housing tower at 1401 Assembly St. in the city’s historic Arsenal Hill neighborhood opened on July 31. The Standard offers 247 fully furnished studio to five-bedroom apartments and a generous amenity pack-

September 2023

The buildings at Campus Village are surrounded by plenty of greenspace and walking trails that make room for the approximately 1,800 students that will call the complex home. (Photo/Provided)

age that includes a resort-style rooftop pool with sun shelves, jumbotrons, fire pit and outdoor grilling stations, complimentary tanning beds, a fitness center, multi-sport simulator, academic lounge with private study rooms and computer lab, a resident clubroom, bike storage and garage parking with

EV charging stations. National real-estate development and investment firm CRG handled the project along with Landmark Properties, the nation’s largest student housing developer, design-builder Clayco and architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative.

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Month 2023

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 15

Restoring the Babcock: a deep dive into history By Christina Lee Knauss

Contributing Writer

n the sweltering heat of an August afternoon, a small crowd of people watched a crane hoist a shiny red dome onto the ornate white cupola perched atop the historic Babcock Building, the centerpiece of Columbia’s BullStreet District urban development project. When the dome finally reached that final destination on Aug. 19, it was the final step of a many-tiered process of putting the cupola back together that took about 30 days — and the culmination of years of work by historic preservationists, developers, architects and builders. The Babcock building, which used to house mental patients when the BullStreet property was the site of the South Carolina State Hospital, closed in the 1990s and sat as a decaying shell until renovation started in 2020, and then was halted after a devastating fire that fall heavily damaged the structure and caused the iconic cupola to topple. Eﬀorts to convert the massive structure into apartments resumed and in 2022 the first tenants moved in. Restoring historic buildings like the Babcock and other historic structures on the BullStreet property is not the same as building new structures or renovating

A determination to keep with integrity something that had been part of Columbia’s skyline since 1885 was central to the drive to restore the Babcock Building, even after heave fire damage gave them reason to give up on the project. (Photo/Christina Knauss)

ones without historic status. Instead, bringing one of these buildings back to life requires developers and architects willing to learn about the

structure’s history and consider how a building’s past can be incorporated into plans for its future. In order to qualify for federal tax

credits, redeveloping a historic structure requires strict adherence to standards set See BABCOCK, Page 16

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

IN BABCOCK, from Page 15

by the U.S. Department of the Interior. “The requirements are designed to make sure the character and defining facets of a building are maintained in order to convey both the cultural and historical importance of the property,” said John Sherrer, director of preservation for Historic Columbia. “There are guidelines that state what can and can’t be done to the property. For most developers and architects who work with these types of buildings, those requirements are not seen as impediments but something to work with.” Enter someone like Sarah McInerney, senior project manager for WalterPARKS Architects in Richmond, Va., the company selected by Clachan Properties, owners of the Babcock, to help bring the building back to life. Historic buildings are her specialty. She has converted churches, warehouses, former mills and oﬃce buildings into residences. Her most recent project was the transformation of a 12-story oﬃce building in downtown Richland that dated to 1905. “I don’t do new construction because there’s nothing to respond to,” McInerney said. “It’s more challenging for me to explore the building, learn its story and respond to the building to come up with a design.” McInerney first visited the Babcock building in 2016 and found a level of disrepair that might have sent some architects running. “The building was in pretty bad disrepair at that point — there were some areas navigating it where floors were just missing,” McInerney said. “There were a lot of physical barriers to getting around it, but this was something that was in my wheelhouse and that’s what made it exciting for me.” At 254,000 square feet, the Babcock was one of the largest buildings McInerney had tackled. After visiting the site and documenting the building, she put data into a computer, studied the current condition of the building and then started to work on transforming it into a place where people could live, without destroying the historical integrity. She said circulation, or how people move about within the building itself, is one of the biggest challenges to preserving a space like a historic hospital or institution. “Wide corridors are essential to the historic fabric of this building, so we made sure to respond to those,” McInerney said. “The circulation of the Babcock was really interesting, with the hallways as well as so many stairs and ways in and out of the building.” Figuring out a design to convert all of the smaller rooms that formerly housed patients into larger living spaces was also a challenge because the walls between the rooms were thick, 18-inch masonry. One of the biggest challenges was dealing with a huge number of historic windows in the building — 1,800 of them — which had to be cataloged, removed from the building and then carefully replaced. “We actually had a complete window

IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION

survey done and put together a giant spreadsheet with each of them documented with its own unique number,” McInerney said. When dealing with historic structures like the Babcock, architects and contractors often have to call on companies with very specific specialties. A company called Museum Resources, also based in Richmond, was selected to work on all those windows. “They repaired or rebuilt every one of them,” she said. “They had an actual window repair workshop on site to do the work.” Converting a former hospital into apartments that would be attractive to a wide variety of residents was obviously a big challenge – one that McInerney enjoys immensely. “The building kind of directs us in what we can do, so we try to work with the building itself in conjunction with the amount of units the clients need,” she said. “It’s a juggle of responding to the building and its constraints and also responding to the developer’s needs.” The result of all that planning and design was 208 apartments that vary in size from one to three bedrooms, each with its own unique design quirks that exist because of the need to maintain the building’s original layout. Residents have responded positively — as of mid-August only 20 of the units remained open. McInerney, who visited Columbia every two weeks during the building process, returned to the site several times in the final stages and is excited to see the apartments she laid out filled with people. “The units have really surprised me,” McInerney said. “They felt small when you looked at the plans on the computer, but in reality the amount of windows in each unit and the amount of light don’t make them feel small at all. That was exciting to see. There are so many unit types and that’s a result of the design responding to the building. I love to visit the Babcock now and see what it looks like with people living there, plants in the windows, cats sitting on the sills,” McInerney said. Now that the Babcock is complete, she will move on to work on the next historic project in her future. “I sometimes feel a little like Indiana Jones when I’m exploring the buildings I work on, trying to figure out their stories,” she said. Sherrer, meanwhile, is happy to see a building that has been a part of Columbia’s history since 1885 return to its former glory. It’s important that the architects, developers and builders took such care with it, he said, because of the building’s complex history not only as a visual icon for the Columbia skyline but also its former status as a place where people with mental illnesses received treatment. “The Babcock is more than bricks and mortar — it’s the story of the people who lived, worked and were treated there,” Sherrer said. “It’s important for people to realize and understand how profound that building is as a legacy and as a book that is still being written.”

September 2023

COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 17

COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION AllSouth Federal Credit Union, Parklane Branch 8352 Parklane Road Developer/owner: AllSouth Federal Credit Union Architects: Studio 2LR General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Estimated completion date: January 2024 Project description: This project consists of the new construction of a new AllSouth Federal Credit Union branch. The 4,222-square-foot location will have five drive-thru lanes.

Alexander Azar Foundation Building 1324 Richland Street Developer/owner: Alexander Azar Foundation Building, Charleston and Las Vegas Architects: Saluda Mallard (Wendy Bergmann and Cleve Walker) General contractor: Hillman Design Build, Lexington, Charleston and Charlotte Engineers: M. Padgett Engineering and Construction, Florence (structural); Relative H&A, Irmo (HVAC) Estimated completion date: March 2024 Estimated total cost of project: <$1 million Project description: This project encompasses the historical new commercial construction of a 1918 residential historic home owned by the Alexander family (from Alexander’s Bargain House, 1904, at 1904 Assembly Street) with modern amenities. The all-electric building will feature EV level 2 charging, audio, ethernet, video, security with ADA parking behind automated access gates, and more. Proceeds from rental income will go to two Columbia churches. Brentwood Development 1514 Brentwood Drive Developer/owner: Cason Development Group Architects: Garvin Design Group General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Engineers: Swygert & Associates (mechanical, plumbing), Belka Engineering Associates (electrical), Mabry Engineering Associates (structural), LandPlan South (civil) Estimated completion date: Fall 2023 Project description: A new shell space for future retail, restaurant and office space is being built on a steeply sloped site. Special features include a rooftop patio. See CUC, Page 18

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COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

September 2023

CUC, from Page 17

Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply (Ceeus) 1057 Colite Dr., West Columbia Developer/owner: Ceeus, West Columbia Architects: Seed Architecture General contractor: McCrory Construction Engineers: MECA (mechanical/plumbing), GWA (electrical), Thomas & Hutton (civil), Mabry Engineering Associates, West Columbia (structural) Estimated completion date: Third quarter 2024 Project description: This project covers the upfit of 247,000-square-foot shell building with majority dedicated to heated warehouse space. The project scope includes a two-story, 100,000-plus-square-foot office area with high-end finishes; full mechanical, electrical and plumbing, installation of two preengineered buildings for storage; and construction of an entrance road.

The Courtyards at Lowman, Phase II 2101 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin Developer/owner: Lutheran Homes of South Carolina, Irmo Architects: RLPS Architects, Lancaster, PA General contractor: McCrory Construction Engineers: Reese Hackman Engineering, State College, PA (mechanical, electrical, plumbing); Civil Engineers of Columbia (civil); Snell Engineering Consultants, Sarasota, Fla. (structural) Estimated completion date: Fourth quarter 2023 Project description: McCrory is building a second phase of independent-living apartments at the Lowman Homes in Chapin. The apartments are arranged around a central courtyard with a lush landscape design and features livable porches to enhance outdoor recreation and interaction among neighbors. The neighborhoods include four one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom apartments ranging from 740- to 1,018 square feet, along with two community rooms. See CUC, Page 19

September 2023

COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CUC, from Page 18

Lexington Self Storage 108 Hermitage Road, Lexington Developer/owner: Hermitage Road Investors Architects: Davis Architecture General contractor: Cohn Construction Services Engineers: GMK Associates (mechanical); Belka Engineering Associates, West Columbia (electrical); HB Engineering (civil); Lexington; Storage Structures, Villa Rica, Ga. (structural) Estimated completion date: October 2023 Project description: This three-story 96,570-square-foot self-storage facility will have approximately 614 climate-controlled storage rooms, two elevators, four restrooms, and an office. Construction will consist of a conventionally framed steel structure with concrete slab on grade and two concrete slabs on metal decking for the second and third floors. The exterior will feature light gage steel-framed insulated walls with a mixture of brick veneer, board and batten.

Premium Peanut 203 Knowles Creek, Santee Developer/owner: Premium Peanut Architects: Architectural Design Center, Easley General contractor: McCrory Construction Engineers: WB Guimarin (mechanical, plumbing); Walker & Whiteside, Greenville (electrical); WK Dickerson, Greenville (civil); Fuller Group, Greenville (structural) Estimated completion date: Fourth quarter 2023 Project description: McCrory was selected to provide design-build services to Premium Peanut for its new peanut processing plant. Project scope consists of site development of the 42-acre site, grading for the rail spur and construction of a 35,910-square-foot seed treatment, dry storage and shipping facility. Rowesville Industrial Renovation 2084 Rowesville Road, Orangeburg Developer/owner: Brooks Glover Group, Columbus, Ga. Architects: Carlisle Associates General contractor: McCrory Construction

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 19

Engineers: Carlisle Associates (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil, structural) Estimated completion date: Fourth quarter 2023 Project description: McCrory is renovating more than 209,000 square feet of the former Federal-Mogul industrial facility for use as office and warehouse areas. Scope of work includes a complete MEP replacement, all new doors throughout the building, new overhead doors along with dock equipment, installation of all new fire pump and sprinkler systems, electrical service and branch circuitry, interior partitions, paint and flooring, storefront renovations, a truck scale, and a truck service road.

Sandhills Pediatrics 101 Sum Mor Dr., West Columbia Developer/owner: West Columbia Investors Architects: Seed Architecture General contractor: Cohn Construction Services Engineers: Michael O. Vaught (mechanical), West Columbia; Belka Engineering Associates (electrical), West Columbia; HB Engineering (civil), Lexington; Mabry Engineering Associates(structural), West Columbia Estimated completion date: August 2023 Estimated total cost of project: Project description: The scope of work for this renovation is the expansion of the parking lot on the east side of the building and a full interior renovation of the existing approximately 6,100-square-foot building, including an approximately 1,500 square feet of finished space upstairs.

Vacuum Truck Rentals 7525 Richard Street Developer/owner: WCH-Palmetto State Properties, Richland, MS Architects: Davis Architecture General contractor: Cohn Construction Services Project manager: Columbia Engineers: Michael O. Vaught PE, West Columbia (mechanical); HB Engineering, Lexington (civil); Tobias West Structural Engineering; Harvey Lucas PE Estimated completion date: December 2023 Project description: The scope of work for the Vacuum Truck Rental project includes site development of an approximately seven-acre parcel on Richard Street. The site will include an employee parking lot and truck court. An approximately 25,175-square-foot pre-engineered metal building is being constructed on the site with approximately 2,660 square feet of office space, 1,340 square feet of shop office space, a 3,775-square-foot mezzanine for storage, and 17,400 square feet of warehouse for parts storage and service.

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION

September 2023

General Contractors Ranked by No. of Contracts in 2022 Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Contracts: No. / Value

Sacon 749 Kirkland Circle Elgin, SC 29045

803-572-4300 www.sacon.us mailbox@sacon.us

Employees

Doug Hunt 1986

250 -

In-house, licensed team of construction crews, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians serving every aspect of your project.

Orion Construction Co. Inc. 1930 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-1634 E. Mitchell www.orionconstructioncompanyincorporated.com Frank 1985 orionmitch@aol.com

90 $300,000

General construction, concrete, roofing

Remodeling Services Unlimited Inc. 3127 Forest Drive Columbia, SC 29204

803-765-9363 www.remodelingservicesunlimited.com tony@rsu-acc.com

Tony Thompson 1977

47 $2,000,910

Commercial and residential remodeling, licensed general and residential builders, planning, design, scheduling and completing projects

Kirk Commercial Construction 1625 Bluff Road Columbia, SC 29201

803-250-2495 www.kirkcommercialconstruction.com

Chris Kirk 2011

40 $12,000,000

803-400-1000 www.mashburnconstruction.com info@mashburnconstruction.com

Lee Mashburn, Paul Mashburn 1976

40 $45,524,248

803-736-2950 www.mbkahn.com

William H. Neely, Robert A. Chisholm 1927

33 $52,667,927

144

General contracting, construction management

803-791-1295 www.blytheconstruction.com

Cody Montgomery, Ronald Van Vlake 1921

25 $40,000,000

113

Highways, utility, bridges, streets and minor roads, turn key site developments and remediation of existing sites

Solid Structures 2548 Morningside Drive West Columbia, SC 29169

803-926-0298 www.solidstructures.info sbrazell@solidstructures.info

Sandi Brazell 2008

21 $5,911,000

New construction, pre-engineered metal buildings, renovations, designbuild

Chapin Commercial Construction 573 Chapin Road Chapin, SC 29036

803 771-0453 www.chapincommercialconstruction.com

Steve Helms, John Thomason 2018

20 -

Design-build commercial construction specializing in new construction, pre-engineered metal buildings, restaurants, dealerships, office, industrial, mini-warehouses, franchise work, medical

Cohn Corp. 1556 Main St., Suite 300 Columbia, SC 29201

803-699-1325 www.cohncorporation.com info@cohnconstruction.com

Beth Frost, Harris Cohn, Brian E. Pattison 1993

20 $23,000,000

Manufacturing, industrial, adaptive re-use, healthcare, self-storage and general commercial

McCrory Construction 522 Lady St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-799-8100 www.mccroryconstruction.com info@mccroryconstruction.com

Allen Bridgers, Allen B. Amsler 1918

20 $155,000,000

Commercial, industrial, multifamily, retail, office, construction management

Edcon Inc. 4 Mulberry St. Peak, SC 29122

803-345-3791 www.edconinc.com

Chase Edwards, Josh Edwards, James M. Edwards 1988

18 $15,100,000

Building commercial offices, education, correctional facilities, industrial and manufacturing, sports and entertainment, religious and cultural, military, government

Hill Construction Company 108 Park Terrace Road Columbia , SC 29212

803-720-9225 www.hillconstructionllc.com astrickland@hillconstructionllc.com

Amanda Strickland, Ray Hill 2010

17 -

Unlimited commercial new construction, renovations, upfits, multifamily and marinas

Pyramid Contracting LLC 951 Western Lane Irmo, SC 29063

803-732-2050 www.pyramidcontracting.com info@pyramidcontracting.com

Robert Alexander, Bill Atkins, David Stewart 2003

15 $14,015,116

Commercial, federal and defense construction in design-build, designbid-build, pre-engineered metal buildings, renovations and additions, industrial, medical, restaurant, retail, military

Reeves Construction Co. 248 Plemmons Road Duncan, SC 29334

864-968-2250 www.reevescc.com

Paul Edwards, Lee Barrack 1933

15 $14,676,000

Airports, bridges, highways, streets and minor roads, tunnels and other structures

Hill Construction Co. LLC 108 Park Terrace Drive Columbia, SC 29212

803-720-9225 www.hillconstructionllc.com rhill@hillconstructionllc.com

Amanda Strickland , Ray Hill 2010

14 -

Unlimited commercial new construction, renovations, upfits, historical renovations, multifamily

G. Meetze Construction LLC 1720 Dutch Fork Road, Suite G Irmo, SC 29063

803-345-5888 www.gmeetzeconstruction.com contact@gmeetzeconstruction.com

Gerald D. Meetze 1998

13 $750,000

Residential and commercial renovations

Thompson Turner Construction 100 N. Main St. Sumter, SC 29150

803-773-8005 www.thompsonturner.com info@thompsonturner.com

Hal Turner 2001

12 $180,000,000

Commercial offices, sports, entertainment, health care, retail, restaurants, hotels, convention centers, distribution, warehouses, religious, cultural, education, industrial and manufacturing

Master Construction Co. Inc. 218 St. Peters Church Road Chapin, SC 29036

803-345-8088 www.masterconstructionco.com dcayton@masterconstructionco.com

Eddie Fulmer 1992

9 -

Pre-engineered metal buildings, design-build, conventional buildings, medical, retail, mini storage, industrial, manufacturing, office space, renovations

Fitts & Goodwin Inc. 120 Corporate Blvd. West Columbia, SC 29169

803-796-4660 www.fittsandgoodwin.com info@fittsandgoodwin.com

Justin William Poore, Joel Dutton, Thomas Fitts 1984

7 $25,000,000

Areas of expertise include industrial, warehousing and distribution, food and beverage processing and health care facilities construction

Buchanan Construction Services 2800 William Tuller Drive Columbia, SC 29205

803-695-2123 www.buchananconstructionservices.com info@buchananconstructionservices.com

Davis Buchanan, Betsy McDonald 2004

6 $10,000,000

Midmarket commercial construction projects

Murphy Contracting Inc. 111 Reed Ave. Lexington, SC 29072

803-957-4541 www.murphycontractinginc.com murphycontractinginc@sc.rr.com

Robert F. Murphy, Brad D. Murphy 1995

5 $2,000,000

Design build, pre-engineered steel buildings, retail, office, church facilities, medical, industrial, renovation and upfits, car washes

G. Meetze Construction LLC 1720 Dutch Fork Road, Suite G Irmo, SC 29063

803-600-4721 www.gmeetzeconstruction.com

Gerald Meetze 1999

2 $1,000,000

Office, retail, restaurant, new development, remodeling, historic preservation

Mashburn Construction Co. Inc. 1820 Sumter St. Columbia, SC 29201 M. B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc. 101 Flintlake Road Columbia, SC 29223 Eurovia Atlantic Coast LLC dba Blythe 3176 Charleston Highway West Columbia, SC 29172

Area of Specialization

Painting, EIFS/stucco patching or recoating, door and hardware installation, pressure washing, masonry repairs, parking lot resurfacing and striping, concrete work, curb, gutter and sidewalks, millwork, cabinets Pre-construction, construction management and design-build services to historic, healthcare, education, hospitality, office, industrial, religious, public and multi-family clients; Upfit Division is devoted to smaller projects

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. For a full list of participating organizations, visit scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Email additions or corrections to Listresearch@Bridgetowermedia.com. To be considered for future lists or for omissions or corrections, email listresearch@bridgeotwermedia.com

IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION

September 2023

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 21

Architecture Firms

Ranked by No. of Registered Architects in the Columbia Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Architects / Employees

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture 1316 Washington St., Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29201

864-242-2035 www.mcmillanpazdansmith.com info@mcmillanpazdansmith.com

1955

13 13

Southeast firm serving education, healthcare, industrial, civic/cultural clients with architecture, advisory services and interior design solutions

Garvin Design Group 1209 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-212-1032 www.garvindesigngroup.com msyms@garvindesigngroup.com

Scott L. Garvin 2003

11 24

Higher education, historic preservation, hospitality, retail, multifamily, commercial, corporate, athletics, faith-based

LS3P Associates Ltd. 701 Lady St., Suite A Columbia, SC 29201

803-765-2418 www.ls3p.com connect@ls3p.com

Mary Beth Branham, Allen R. Taylor 1963

11 25

Architecture, interiors, planning

BOUDREAUX 1519 Sumter St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-799-0247 www.boudreauxgroup.com hmitchell@boudreauxgroup.com

Heather A. Mitchell, Randy Huth, David Wiesendanger 1976

10 17

Architecture, interior design, planning, historic preservation

Jumper Carter Sease Architects P.A. 412 Meeting St. West Columbia, SC 29169

803-791-1020 www.jcsarchitects.com info@jcsarchitects.com

L. Todd Sease, Joel M. Carter 1929

9 24

Architecture, planning and interior architecture

GMK Associates Inc. 1201 Main St., Suite 2100 Columbia, SC 29201

803-256-0000 www.gmka.com info@gmka.com

Jeffrey L. Baker 1966

6 60

Architecture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, plumbing design, planning, design-build, construction services and interior design

Goodwyn Mills Cawood 915 Lady St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-766-1235 www.gmcnetwork.com info@gmcnetwork.com

Tyler Morgan, Marc Warren, Kevin Laird 1947

5 11

Architecture, interior design, civil, electrical, environmental, geotechnical, transportation engineering, planning, landscape architecture

Quackenbush Architects & Planners 1217 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-771-2999 www.quackenbusharchitects.com

P. Douglas Quackenbush, Barbara Haller 2004

5 11

Educational, corporate, athletics, commercial architecture and interior design

SSOE 1501 Main St., Suite 730 Columbia, SC 29201

803-765-0320 www.ssoe.com services@ssoe.com

Keith Branham 1948

5 33

Architecture, engineering, interior design

Studio 2LR Inc. 2428 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-233-6602 www.studio2lr.com admin@studio2lr.com

Wes Lyles, Gretchen Lambert, Tripp Riley 2005

5 10

Architecture, interior design, planning, building model information

JHS Architecture Integrated Design 1812 Lincoln St., Third Floor Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-2400 www.jhs-architects.com dfraser@jhs-architects.com

Randy L. Sides, Douglas E. Fraser 1986

4 13

Health care, resort and multifamily, corporate, educational, architecture and interior design

Catalyst Architects LLC 212 W. Main St. Lexington, SC 29072

803-358-6565 www.catalystarch.com wrogers@catalystarch.com

Brandon Rogers, Wayne Rogers, Heather B. Stallworth 1988

3 8

Architectural design of custom homes

Mead & Hunt 878 S. Lake Drive Lexington, SC 29072

803-996-2900 www.meadhunt.com mailbox@meadhunt.com

Berry Still, Jeff Burkett 1900

3 53

Architecture, engineering, planning, environmental consulting for aviation, transportation, construction, municipal, water resources

Architrave LLC 730 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-6636 www.architraveonline.com info@architraveonline.com

Dale Marshall, Justin Washburn 1988

2 2

Architectural services for residential and commercial buildings

Carlisle Associates Inc. 1015 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-3232 www.carlisleassociates.com tfailor@carlisleassociates.com

Ray C. White, Gene Resch 1977

2 16

Site selection, master planning, architectural, interior design, civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, process, fire protection and electrical

Lambert Architecture & Construction Services 1224 Huger St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-816-0295 www.lambertarchcs.com scott@lambertarchcs.com

Scott Lambert, Rich Spicer 2012

2 5

Architectural design, planning, historic consulting, construction services

Seed Architecture 1328 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-727-2098 www.seedarchitect.com info@seedarchitect.com

John K. Powell 2015

2 6

Architectural and planning firm providing services for commercial, industrial and faith-based clients

1x1 Design 221 Pickens St. Columbia, SC 29205

803-834-4048 www.1x1design.com astjohn@1x1design.com

Asheley S. St. John 2011

1 2

Commercial and residential architecture and planning services for renovations and ground-up construction

Craig A. Otto, Architect Inc. 105 W. Main St., Suite C Lexington, SC 29072

803-957-9004 www.craigottoarchitect.com craig@craigottoarchitect.com

Craig A. Otto 1990

1 4

Hospitality, churches, offices, dental, clinical, retail

Davis Architecture Inc. 1328 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-699-0844 www.davisarchitecture.com info@davisarchitecture.com

Matthew J. Davis 1995

1 5

Commercial, residential, religious facilities, renovations, retail upfits, medical offices, daycares

Deborah A. Snow, Architect 2210 Devine St. Columbia, SC 29205

803-771-6267 dasnow@msarch.net

Deborah A. Snow 2019

1 1

All general practice areas, commercial, institutional and residential

Heyward & Woodrum Ltd. AIA 3144 Carlisle St. Columbia, SC 29205

803-312-0066 www.heywardwoodrum.com larry@heywardwoodrum.com

Larry H. Woodrum 1965

1 1

Architectural firm

Shepard & Associates LLC 3547 Dreher Shoals Road, Suite 6 Irmo, SC 29063

803-407-8284 becki@shepardandassociates.us

Becki Anderson, Richard C. Parrish 2001

0 6

Roofing and waterproofing consultants specializing in evaluation, design, quality control and contract administration phase services

Major Services

At Work

PEOPLE, PLACES AND HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS

People in the News BUSINESS SERVICES

The Five Points Rotary Club awarded the Nancy M. Moody Law Enforcement Award of Excellence to investigator Cassie Radford, of the Richland County Sheriﬀ ’s Gasque Department. This is the first year that the club presented the award. Mary Gasque, Rotary district governor elect, announced the award.

CONSTRUCTION

Williams

ing industry.

Terracon’s Melvin C. Williams has been elected to receive the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina 2023 Engineer of the Year Award, given for outstanding service to the engineer-

EDUCATION South University has appointed Sandra Bolton as director of community outreach and development at the Columbia campus. Bolton is a cum laude graduate of Bolton Southern Wesleyan University, where she earned an MBA. She brings more than 17 years of experience in business development, sales and marketing in both corporate and private sectors.

FINANCIAL SERVICES Calvin Beamon has joined Hub International as employee benefits insurance advisor in the Carolinas region. He established his consulting cornerstone with PayBeamon chex and later joined McGriﬀ Insurance Services as a health care broker. Beamon studied at the University of Las Vegas and the University of Texas at Austin, where he was part of the 2005 College World Series Baseball National Championship team. After graduation, he spent time with the Seattle Mariners organization

and then at the University of South Carolina as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Ryan Swinson has joined Tax Credit Marketplace as director of marketing and communications. Swinson has more than 19 years of experience, most recently Swinson managing marketing programs for vendor manufacturers in the technology space. She is responsible for overall brand strategy, external communications, advertising, public relations, events, and sponsorships.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES Britt Poole is the new executive director for the Central Midlands Council of Governments. Poole comes to the agency with 22 years of local government management experience, including serving as administrator for the Town of Lexington since 2010. In his new position, Poole facilitates the strategic vision of the council and oversees all services provided by the agency.

LAW

Umbach

Bethea

Adams and Reese attorneys Rob Bethea and Will Umbach have been ranked among the top corporate/mergers and acquisitions attorneys in South Carolina in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide. Bethea is the firm’s middle market mergers and acquisitions team leader and a member of the executive committee. He is a partner in the Columbia and Charleston oﬃces. Umbach is the partner in charge of the Columbia oﬃce.

Dempsey

Brown

Moseley Marcinak Law Group has added Robert Lesley “Robb” Brown and

John Dempsey to its roster. Brown has represented insurance companies and their insureds in personal injury, property damage, and commercial coverage cases. He has successfully tried more than 50 cases to verdict across South Carolina. He focuses on civil litigation, representing trucking companies, their drivers, and logistics companies, as well as their insurance providers. Prior to entering private practice, Brown served as an assistant attorney general under former attorney general Henry McMaster. He is also a certified mediator in both the South Carolina state courts and District Court. A graduate of Erskine College and the University of South Carolina School of Law, Brown is licensed to practice in South Carolina. Dempsey has more than three decades of legal experience. Prior to joining the firm, he was in private practice in Flemington, N.J. A graduate of the University of Miami and St. Thomas University School of Law, he is licensed to practice in South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, and North Carolina (pending). Molly Campolong, an associate with Robinson Gray, has been elected to the emerging leaders advisory board of Meritas. At Robinson Gray, Campolong Campolong splits her practice between commercial transactions and insolvency and creditor’s rights representation. Before joining the firm, she clerked for John Cannon Few at the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of South Carolina. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina’s Honors College, she earned her juris doctor at the Emory University School of Law. Robinson Gray was a Meritas founding member and remains the only member firm in South Carolina. Julianne Oehlbeck, formerly vice president of legal and associate general counsel for Chobani, has joined MRB Group as chief legal oﬃcer and general Oehlbeck counsel for the engineering, architecture, and municipal services firm. At Chobani, Oehlbeck provided legal and business advice. She most recently advised the company’s supply chain and Chobani Café on day-to-day operations, legal matters, business risks, contractual matters, and strategic decisions. Oehlbeck

received her juris doctor from Albany Law School and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Clemson University. She is continuing her work with the Chenango Memorial Hospital board of directors as an executive and treasurer, chairing the finance and audit committees.

MARKETING AN PUBLIC RELATIONS Anil Dhokai, a multimedia specialist on Prisma Health’s marketing, communications and consumerism team, has won a Southeastern Emmy for a video Dhokia he produced about a young patient with cancer who was treated at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in the Midlands. His video, “Nothing can stop child cancer patient after receiving prosthetic limb,” won in the Health/Medical–Short Form Content category. He created the video for social media during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month last fall, working with senior marketing strategist William Cooke. Kelly Hughes is now with the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board as marketing and communications manager. Hughes graduated Hughes from the University of South Carolina with a major in mass communications and a minor in media arts. As a student, Hughes was a Garnet & Black Magazine editor. Most recently, she was marketing and communications intern with MUSC Health Midlands.

NONPROFIT

Carter

Ford

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families has promoted Jai-Anna Carter to communications manager. Her role involves conceptional digital media content creation. New to the center is Lawrence Ford, director of marketing and communications.

Viewpoint

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

South Carolina can help keep global internet free and accessible South Carolina’s manufacturing sector provides a massive boost to the state’s economy and workforce. But it’s even more important than that: as China attempts to leapfrog America in global technological leadership, South Carolina’s advanced manufacturing capabilities can help to thwart Beijing’s ambitions. A new report explains how South Carolina’s expertise KELLY could help to keep the internet open and accessible by ensuring that our allies have access to high-tech goods and services produced in democratic countries. China aspires to lead the world in innovation. As part of its “Made in China 2025” industrial policy, China has particularly focused on investing in the

technologies of the future, like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and virtual reality. In comparison, American investment has been slow and plodding — China now leads America in total gross innovation and by many measures already leads us in dozens of key technologies. Amid these threats, the United States must commit to maintaining a free and open internet. As three pillars of a robust policy agenda, America should slow the spread of foreign digital authoritarianism, promote free speech within and across border, and build a stronger internet to connect people to each other and to their governments. Supply chain security is a cornerstone of this agenda. To protect our national security and to keep the internet open around the globe, policymakers should take steps to disrupt the deployment of Chinese technologies to our allies and reduce the world’s dependency on technology made in China.

In particular, American investment in technology should support new tools such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Investment should extend to worker training and funding for academic research, as well as grant programs. When sanctions and export controls are necessary, the federal government should impose them clearly and narrowly so that American companies can easily comply, ideally without having to cede market share to foreign competitors. South Carolina can help turn these policy goals into reality. Across the board, South Carolina produces a wide range of high-quality goods, including aerospace components, automotive parts and medical devices, all here at home. South Carolina also houses numerous research and development facilities that could help to disrupt China’s dominance in certain industries. For example, Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive

Research is developing new technologies for autonomous vehicles, while BMW is investing $1.7 billion in a new manufacturing facility in the state. Moreover, South Carolina is training a more skilled workforce through programs at the high school, college and adult education levels. With autocracies like China and Russia on the move, the internet of the future could look very different from today. This policy agenda will slow the spread of digital authoritarianism and usher in an era of greater economic opportunity, increased political accountability and expanded human rights. This agenda also will help to protect America’s security and ensure that our values of free speech and democracy continue to resonate around the world. Doug Kelly serves as CEO of the American Edge Project, a coalition dedicated to the proposition that American innovators are an essential part of U.S. economic health, national security and individual freedoms.

NMTC brings jobs, economic development and history On June 24, the International African American Museum held its Grand Opening Community Celebration and dedication ceremony in Charleston, bringing community members and visitors together. The Museum illuminates Charleston’s role in the international slave trade, shares the undertold stories of the African American experience and connects visitors to the past. The IAAM also offers educational opportunities, including the Center for Family COOPER History, designed to be a leading national genealogical family search center for descendants of enslaved people to discover their personal histories. TD Community Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of TD Bank N.A., is proud to have played a significant part in funding the IAAM, using a $14.4 million New Markets Tax Credit

allocation to invest in the Museum and its educational programs. The South Carolina Community Loan Fund added an additional $3 million in NMTC allocation to the project. Together, these NMTC allocations attracted a sizable $5 million equity investment from TD Bank into the project. Authorized by Congress in 2000, the NMTC Program incentivizes community development and economic growth through the use of tax credits (given as allocations) that then attract private investment to distressed communities. The unique beauty of the NMTC program is that it is used effectively in rural and urban areas to support good jobs and strong wages and has historically held bipartisan support. In addition to creating high-quality jobs, NMTCs create and expand access to health care, early childcare and schools, job training, groceries, telecommunications, energy, arts, recreation and infrastructure in ways that traditional private sector financing cannot effectively meet. Since 2003, the NMTC has provided much-needed investment and advance-

ment opportunities for underserved communities across the country and those right here in South Carolina. In just two decades, NMTCs have spurred an unprecedented level of investment in both rural and urban low-income communities, generating nearly $130 billion in capital investment through public-private partnerships and creating more than 1 million jobs across the country. The NMTC has an outstanding track record of revitalizing communities outside of the economic mainstream as a targeted, cost-efficient financial tool — and it has the potential to achieve even greater impact. In Charleston, the IAAM project created 154 construction jobs and museum workers. Museum guests will continue to economically benefit the city as they frequent local restaurants, visit other neighboring attractions, and pay for lodging, parking and local transportation. This influx of tourists and regional visitors to the neighborhood provides an economic stimulus, producing revenue and creating jobs in the process. The IAAM is estimated to welcome

145,000 visitors, including more than 25,000 guests of African descent in its opening year. Further, the IAAM allocated $3 million of its endowment to underwriting field trips for underserved students from the Southeast region. These funds are expected to support travel and admission for approximately 20,000 low-income students annually. The IAAM will be a treasure in Charleston for decades to come — and that is thanks in part to the NMTC. The program is not a permanent part of the tax code and is set to expire in 2025, but Congress is likely to provide an extension. Michael Cooper is President of TD Community Development Corporation, and a Board member of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition.

We want to hear from you Write: Ross Norton, Editor SC Biz News 35B Cessna Court Greenville, S.C. 29607 Email: rnorton@scbiznews.com

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

September 2023

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