By Molly Parker
mparker@scbiznews.com
Published Nov. 6, 2009

The Boeing company awarded a design-build contract for its new Dreamliner assembly line to a joint venture between Charlotte-based BE&K Building Group, and Turner Construction, a New York firm that has enjoyed a long relationship with the aerospace manufacturer.

BRPH, based in Melbourne, Fla., is the design partner selected for the new North Charleston plant. Both BRPH and BE&K have regional offices in Greenville.

Gov. Mark Sanford said the project could mean as many as 2,000 construction-related jobs.

In a statement, Mac Carpenter, BE&K’s executive vice president, said the building permits are in hand and that the team expects to break ground this month. The design-build contracting method allows field work to begin while the design is still underway, Carpenter said, "shaving months off the construction schedule."

All three of these companies worked together to design and build the original Dreamliner-related assembly facilities in North Charleston, on the same campus where the new assembly line will be located.

"We are so pleased to be associated with a project of such significance for the state of South Carolina," he said.

The deal could translate into an infusion of capital into the struggling construction industry. Boeing Charleston spokeswoman Candy Eslinger said her phone has been ringing nonstop since the company announced it would build the second 787 assembly line near the Charleston International Airport. Business-hungry locals are likely to get part of the work, she said. 

"With a project this size, there are significant opportunities created for local subcontracts and suppliers, just based on the general size of the work statement," Eslinger said.

Carpenter said his team plans to bring "local, small and diverse suppliers" into the fold as part of the joint venture’s subcontracting plan.

Jerry Howard, president and CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corp. said he is "thrilled" that Boeing picked BE&K, which has a significant presence in the Upstate.

"BE&K Building Group has extensive experience and expertise, and this will certainly mean more jobs for people in our area," Howard said.

Brian Knowles, vice President of Turner Construction, said the three-company team, because of its long-standing relationship, knows "how to deliver outstanding value together."

BE&K Building Group and BRPH worked together in 2006 to build the 342,000-square-foot aft fuselage assembly plant that Boeing purchased from Vought Aircraft Industries in July. The team also designed and constructed the neighboring Global Aeronautica plant that is half owned by Boeing in a joint venture with Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica.  

Turner served as the owners' representative on both of these projects.

"Collectively, we delivered these facilities on schedule, under budget and with the safety, quality and inclusiveness which the client desired," Carpenter said.

He boasted that the team completed the first project a week ahead of schedule and that workers logged more than 500,000 hours without a lost-time accident.

The design-build trio aims to construct a building that achieves LEED Silver certification by incorporating a number of sustainable elements into the project.

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