SouthCon Building Group Wins Eagle Award and Project of the Year for Historic Restoration Project at Boone Hall Plantation
SouthCon Building Group, a full-service general contractor based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., recently won “Project of the Year” — an exclusive award from Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas) — for the Boone Hall Plantation 1850s Cotton Gin House Renovation and Addition, also in Mount Pleasant. This exciting news was revealed at the end of the night during ABC Carolinas’ Annual Excellence in Construction (EIC) gala on November 7, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. Earlier in the evening, SouthCon was presented with the coveted Eagle Award, ABC’s highest-level award, in the Historic Restoration-Renovation ($2 million-$5 million category).
Boone Hall’s Gin House Renovation and Addition was a technically complex project that created a multipurpose event space, gift shop and museum at the heart of America’s most photographed plantation. Built more than 170 years ago to house the plantation’s original cotton gin, the two-story “Gin House” had been “shuttered” for 15 years when SouthCon began renovation/restoration activities. As SouthCon tackled numerous anticipated challenges, the team encountered an array of unforeseen conditions. One major unexpected challenge was creating a seamless tie-in from the Gin House to the new construction portion due to a severely bulging north wall.
“We are honored that Boone Hall Plantation chose our team to help preserve its history for generations to come,” said SouthCon Building Group’s President and CEO Chris Spach. “SouthCon was faced with a multitude of challenges on a daily basis, but despite the unique circumstances, our team worked tirelessly to effectively meet Boone Hall’s high expectations. We learned ahead of time that we would win top honors in our category with the Eagle Award, but being singled out for ABC’s Project of the Year Award was certainly an unexpected and welcome surprise.”
ABC Carolinas’ Annual EIC Awards competition is open to general contractors and specialty contractors in the two-state region. Having won at the Carolinas chapter level, SouthCon Building Group became eligible to compete in ABC’s National EIC Awards for which winners will be announced at ABC’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, in February 2025.
In February 2024, SouthCon was part of a team that received two Carolopolis Awards from the Preservation Society of Charleston for this project – one for Exterior renovations, the other for Interior renovations. The award-winning project team included Goff D’Antonio Associates, architect; EM Structural Engineers; DWG Consulting Engineers (MEP); and SouthCon Building Group, general contractor. Boone Hall’s Gin House was the only project to win in more than one category.
About SouthCon Building Group — SouthCon Building Group serves commercial, industrial, retail and institutional clients throughout the Carolinas and Georgia from its headquarters in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. SouthCon Building Group was founded in 2008 by President and CEO Chris Spach, LEED AP. To learn more, visit www.southconbuilding.com.
