Swinerton, the national general contractor, expanded into the Southeast U.S. in 2018. Since then, the firm’s Carolinas Division has generated at least $359 million in revenue from commercial construction projects that have run the gamut from corporate interiors and multifamily to healthcare and mass timber builds.
Of that total, Swinerton’s Carolinas Division is on pace to generate $120 million in revenue in 2023 alone. Among its projects nearing completion is the adaptive reuse within a former warehouse building in West Charlotte, N.C.’s Lower Tuck mixed-use development for office space: a $2.8 million renovation to create a 28,000-sf, two-story space that houses an international nonprofit disaster relief organization; and a nearly $1 million 9,000-sf expansion for an existing tenant, the tool manufacturer Positec, that adds offices, a conference room, and a break room.
These two upgrades were performed by the division’s Special Projects team. Each of Swinerton’s 20 offices nationwide has its own Special Projects crews, which allow the firm to position itself as a “community based GC” that is run like a boutique business, says Jason Hlewicki, Director of Special Projects for the Carolinas Division.
What constitutes a “special project,” however, is a little amorphous. Hlewicki says his special projects team is not separate from the division’s other employees. Nor is a project deemed “special” because of its size or cost: Hlewicki says his team has completed a renovation for a local restaurant group in 56 days, and has also worked on 100,000-sf $40 million jobs.
While special projects run across Swinerton’s practices, their designation “depends on the project’s characteristics and makeup,” he explains. Examples include commercial interiors, off-hours work, medical office building interiors, classroom renovations, and sports complexes.
Division serves a growing region
Hlewicki says that having a special projects team within a division allows Swinerton to be nimble and to pivot when needed, partly by pairing “the best possible staff with the project.” Another competitive advantage, he says, includes Swinerton being a self-performing GC whose crews are made up of its employees. (Swinerton is employee-owned.)
The Carolinas Division completes between 20 and 30 special projects annually, and therefore it deals with a lot of different AEC firms and developers. (Third & Urban is the developer of the Lower Tuck project.) it’s been Hlewicki’s experience that special projects allow Swinerton more room for creativity, especially when the firm is brought on early as part of the project’s design-build team.
The Carolinas have enjoyed a steady influx of people and businesses in recent years, a trend that’s expected to continue going forward. Hlewicki says demand for his firm’s services, both for new builds and renos, “is moving in an exciting direction.” Those services include Swinerton’s Facilities Solution program, a national platform that provides maintenance to existing clients using dedicated crews. “This keeps Swinerton top of mind with our customers,” says Hlewicki.
Related Stories
| Apr 19, 2012
The 10 mistakes most likely to get you sued
The California Chamber of Commerce has produced a white paper cataloging the top 10 mistakes most likely to get a company sued. While a few of the laws cited apply specifically to California, some of them are federal and may apply in your state.
| Apr 19, 2012
Holcim cement plants recognized at PCA Spring Meeting
The Holly Hill plant received the PCA’s Chairman’s Safety Performance Award in recognition of their exceptional health and safety programs. The Theodore plant received the Environmental Performance Award in recognition of the steps they take beyond those required by laws, regulations and permits to minimize their impact on the environment.
| Apr 19, 2012
KTGY Group’s Arista Uptown Apartments in Broomfield, Colo. completed
First of eight buildings highlights unique amenities.
| Apr 19, 2012
Nauset begins work on $20M Joint Forces HQ at Hanscom AFB
3D imaging key to project timetable and cost containment.
| Apr 19, 2012
HBD Construction names Steven Meeks vice president
Meeks will provide expertise for the company in its many diverse areas of construction projects including health care, senior living, education and retail.
| Apr 18, 2012
Lafarge moving North American headquarters to Illinois
Lafarge CEO John Stull says the factors in their decision were location in the Midwest and area transportation.
| Apr 18, 2012
Positive conditions persist for Architecture Billings Index
The AIA reported the March ABI score was 50.4, following a mark of 51.0 in February; greatest demand is for commercial building projects.
| Apr 18, 2012
Syska Hennessy re-launches Information and Communication Technology practice
The ICT practice will focus a blend of products including Information Technology, Security, Audiovisual, Building Automation, Fire Life Safety, Medical Communications and Intelligent Building Systems.
| Apr 18, 2012
Perkins+Will designs new complex for Johns Hopkins Hosptial
The Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children’s Center and the Sheikh Zayed Tower create transformative patient-centric care.
| Apr 18, 2012
BBS Architects & Engineers acquires Ward Associates
The merged companies’ on-going project portfolio valued at $220 million.