Frampton Construction brings Charleston Trade Center project to completion

Frampton Construction Company, LLC, a full-service construction firm providing planning and design support, preconstruction, and construction services, has completed the expansion of IFA’s Summerville, S.C., manufacturing and distribution facility. Located in the Charleston Trade Center and developed by The Keith Corporation, the site, which was delivered a month ahead of schedule, was expanded by 211,000 square feet, bringing the total size of the automotive supplier’s facility to 448,765 square feet.

Constructed of tilt-up concrete panels and structural steel with 32’ ceilings, the expanded area provides added production and manufacturing space, as well as a second cafeteria. Also included in the scope of the project was a 16,000 square foot office upfit on the second floor of the existing building.

“The IFA team is extremely satisfied with the completion of our Charleston expansion project. Throughout the construction process we were impressed with the quality of communication, design adaptability, and overall execution of the final product. High quality, on-time delivery, and staying within budget were key criteria, and the Frampton team delivered in all aspects,” noted Lu Reckmann, CEO of IFA North America.

The expansion is critical to IFA’s growth, allowing for increased production capacity and the consolidation of their South Carolina operations into one location. Out of the new facility, IFA will produce propeller shafts for its customers which include BMW, Fiat-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes, and Volkswagen.

“We appreciate being part of the growth and success of IFA’s North American headquarters in the Charleston Trade Center.  The continued partnerships with Frampton Construction and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture allowed us to achieve another collaborative and successful project for our client,” noted Robert Combs, industrial project director at The Keith Corporation.

This is the third time Frampton Construction has partnered with The Keith Corporation on a Charleston Trade Center project. Other projects completed include a 136,500 square foot speculative industrial building and a 144,000 square foot manufacturing facility for Curtiss-Wright, a product designer and manufacturer for the U.S. Navy.

“IFA and The Keith Corporation have been excellent partners, and we’re proud of this project and the trust our clients again placed in us to deliver a world class facility. We look forward to seeing IFA’s continued growth, and hopefully we’ll have the chance to partner with them again,” noted Chad Frampton, president and CEO at Frampton Construction.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture completed the design for the project.