CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON SWINERTON’S NEWEST MULTIFAMILY BUILD IN NORTH CAROLINA

Swinerton, an industry-leading commercial general contractor with offices nationwide, announces the start of construction of Oxbow, Space Craft’s latest multifamily community in The Mill District. The $97.8 million project is Swinerton’s third endeavor with the national multifamily developer known for building walkable, urban communities. Swinerton previously partnered with Space Craft on Joinery, also in The Mill District, with the final phase under construction. Oxbow is expected to be complete by fall 2026.

“Our partnership with Space Craft continues to deliver high-quality projects that are redefining urban living in one of Charlotte’s most popular neighborhoods,” explains Kevin Smith, Vice President, Division Manager of Swinerton’s Carolinas Division. “Our goals closely align with Space Craft’s – namely, building sustainable and well-constructed mixed-use communities that create pedestrian, non-motor dependent connectivity for residents and visitors alike. Add the integration of mass timber to the mix, and you have the ideal showcase for development that sustains the environment.”

Situated in Charlotte’s Optimist Park neighborhood, Oxbow totals six floors with nearly 14,300 square feet of commercial space fronting East 25th Street at the intersection with N. Davidson Street. A total of 389 rental units range from studio apartments to four-bedroom units. The street-level retail is ideal for boutiques, coffee shops and other neighborhood services. Amenities include a gym, rooftop patio, bike storage and a resident courtyard. Oxbow sits on 4.3 acres that formerly housed four commercial buildings, now demolished.

In addition to its general contractor and construction manager duties, Swinerton is also responsible for the design-build of the project’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection (MEPF) systems. Leveraging innovative technology, the construction team plans to further embrace Building Information Modeling (BIM) by deploying OpenSpace, a 3-D modeling technology that collects data via helmet devices during walk-throughs to deliver exact models of the space for documentation, reference and planning purposes. Smith adds, “This tool is vital to our success on this project by establishing efficiencies and maximizing precision.

“The project is complex due to its hybrid structure and the site’s tight conditions,” adds Smith.

Plans call for a two-story concrete podium housing below-grade parking, topped with a five-story hybrid structure of stick frame with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) slab fabricated by Swinerton’s affiliate company and partner Timberlab at its Greenville, SC facility. Approximately 50 percent of the structure will feature exposed mass timber ceilings using Austrian Spruce timber. To date, Swinerton has constructed nearly 30 mass timber projects with an additional 45 in design or under construction in partnership with Timberlab.

“Swinerton’s in-depth know-how of everything mass timber really allows us to build this hybrid structure and supports our vision for elevated, sustainable urban living,” adds Harrison Tucker, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer, Space Craft. “The construction of Oxbow – our biggest project yet – continues a productive and successful partnership with Swinerton that has already resulted in a quality product at the soon to be completed second phase of Joinery.

“The use of mass timber isn’t Oxbow’s only sustainable element,” continues Tucker.

Plans call for high SEER-rated HVAC systems, energy-efficient appliances and rooftop solar panels to power amenity areas. Tenants will have access to shared electric vehicles, ranging from e-bikes and e-scooters to electric cars. The units also feature in-unit composting, low-VOC paint, low-energy LED lighting and energy-conserving smart thermostats. The project is seeking a silver rating by the National Green Building Standard, the only green building rating system for homes and apartments approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Since expanding to the Southeast in 2018, Swinerton’s Carolinas Division has constructed nearly $400 million of commercial environments. The dedicated team of 90 construction leaders specializes in corporate interiors and buildings, healthcare, education, restaurants and hospitality, multifamily and mass timber construction.