SC Biz News Top Projects 2025 – M.C. Dean, South Carolina

M.C. Dean’s new 25,000-square-foot office and warehouse facility in North Charleston represents a unique integration of industrial functionality with wellness and sustainability goals. Completed Sept. 1, 2024, the facility houses open office spaces, private offices, conference rooms, a training room, fitness facility, warehouse and two specialized lab areas for assembling cyber-physical solutions.

The project pursued an ambitious triple certification approach, targeting LEED BD+C, WELL Building and LEED for Operations and Maintenance certifications. LS3P architect Dan Scheaffer led the design team through an integrative charrette process that brought together all stakeholders from project inception. This collaborative approach proved essential when escalating building costs required careful recalibration of project goals.

Several innovative techniques distinguished the construction process. M.C. Dean’s prefabricated modular IT room was hoisted into place on the first floor before the second floor was constructed. Rather than relying on third-party monitoring, the owner installed permanent indoor air quality monitors in occupied spaces, allowing real-time air quality visibility for end users.

Sustainability features include rooftop solar panels generating approximately 32 percent of annual energy use, optimized building orientation for natural daylight and views and materials with no or low volatile organic compounds. The facility incorporates diverse interactive art installations and provides walkable access to nearby community amenities.

General contractor Monteith Construction Corporation coordinated with specialized engineering teams from Newcomb and Boyd, Professional Engineering Associates and Davis and Floyd to achieve the ambitious certification goals while maintaining focus on creating a highly desirable workplace environment.