Last updated on November 13th, 2024 at 07:16 am
In 2018, the Charlotte Observer reported that The Queen City welcomed around 60 new residents per day. During the last three years, Charlotte was considered one of the top relocation sites for millennials who prefer slightly smaller metro areas that still offer the convenient facets of city living. This is unsurprising, considering the city’s booming economy, growing job market, and relatively lower cost of living. Much to the joy of residential developers, this influx of new residents is causing a spike in demand for multi-family homes. Business owners and general contractors are in luck, too, since the National Multifamily Housing Council is predicting the need for 72,000 more apartment units in Charlotte by 2030.
To succeed in Charlotte’s home building industry, one must understand the needs and wants of potential tenants. They have begun considering amenities, style, and accessibility as must-haves when looking for a place in which to live. Developers are faced with the challenge of putting together teams of designers and general contractors who are capable of delivering projects that meet these requirements.
To help you find the best general contractor for your next project, our team has analyzed the work of multifamily builders in Charlotte. We have come up with a list of the area’s top contractors, based on their portfolios, awards, and media recognition. Many have been chosen based on prestigious industry lists, including Engineering News-Record’s Top Southeast Contractors, and Multifamily Executive’s Largest General Contractors.
If you are thinking about building a multifamily project, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
Matthews Construction
3411 Oak Lake Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208
Matthews Construction is a family-run general contracting firm that was founded by CEO Bobby E. Matthews in 1955. While he is still active as the top executive of the business, his sons Gary and Nathan support him as President and Executive Vice President of the company. Together, they have grown the company into one of the leading general contractors in the Carolinas. It has secured this position by gaining the loyalty of its clients, having nearly 50% of its annual volume from repeat clients.
Among its best work is the 28th Row Condominiums, which is centrally located in the arts and entertainment district of North Davidson. The multi-housing community was designed to reflect the urban area in which it is located. The units feature twelve-foot ceilings, stained concrete flooring, and granite countertops. Matthews Construction also included amenities including a top floor terrace with outdoor lounge areas that overlook the Uptown.
Hendrick Construction
9144 ArrowPoint Blvd. Suite #150, Charlotte, NC 28273
Hendrick Construction is an award-winning multifamily general contractor that serves clients in the Southeast. It was founded in 2002 by Roger Hendrick, who comes from a family of builders. With his knowledge as a fifth-generation general contractor, he has managed to turn the company into one of the leading commercial contractors in North Carolina. Its excellence in construction has been recognized by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) with two Eagle Awards in 2018. It has also ranked on the Top Contractors in the Southeast list of the Engineering News-Record.
Cedar Flats in Uptown Charlotte is one of the firm’s best multifamily projects in the city. The apartment community offers the best of urban living, with each unit featuring high-end touches, including European-style cabinets, quartz countertops, and outdoor patios with views of the city’s business district.
Southside Constructors
11319-D Granite St., Charlotte, NC 28273
Founded in 1999, Southside Constructors has completed over 200 projects across the Southeast. It was founded by Darryl Kellough, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Construction Science Management. With his strong background in construction, he led the firm into becoming one of Charlotte’s premier general contracting firms. In 2017, it ranked at #108 on Engineering News-Record’s list of Top Contractors, and was also in the Inc 500 Fastest Growing Companies.
In 2013, the firm converted rental complex Fat City Lofts into a condominium community. Located in the heart of the NoDa Arts District, the multi-use development features 26 loft-style condominium units. Southside Constructors built each unit with Brazilian cherry flooring, mosaic tile accents, and a galley-style kitchen with specialty lighting and granite countertops.
Shiel Sexton
5950 Fairview Rd. Suite #400, Charlotte, NC 28210
Shiel Sexton is an employee-owned construction company that specializes in construction management, general contracting, and design-build services. It has served clients in healthcare, education, hospitality, and multifamily industries. Its excellence in construction has been recognized by industry organizations, and has also been featured in Bloomberg, Charlotte Business Journal, and Senior Housing News.
The firm was behind the construction of Mercury NoDa, a modern apartment community that offers one, two, and three-bedroom units. Each unit was designed with welcoming finishes, such as custom cabinetry, brushed nickel hardware, and tile backsplashes in the open-concept kitchens. It also offers a saltwater pool, public lounge areas, and washing stations for pet owners.
Concorde Construction
8809 Lenox Point Dr., Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28273
For 25 years, Concorde Construction has been offering sophisticated general contracting services. It is led by President and CEO David Privitera, who works with a team of seasoned professionals. Together, they have built over 12 million square feet of projects, valued at more than $700 million, throughout the Southeast. This success has led to a ranking on the Engineering News-Record’ Top Contractors in the Southeast list, in which it placed at #100.
Among its best work is the 2100 Queens Road Luxury Apartments, which offers high end living in Myers Park. The brick community stands out with its designer landscaping, grand foyer, and private library lounge. Each unit also offers luxury finishes, such as plank Alamosa flooring, bespoke cabinetry, and frameless showers with custom tile work.
Edifice, Inc.
4111 S. Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209
Edifice, Inc. is one of the Southeast’s leading full-service commercial contractors. Established in 1978, it has built for clients across a variety of market sectors, and offers construction services for everything from renovating interiors to building complex structures. In 2018, it was ranked at #55 on the Engineering News-Record’s Top Southeast Contractors list, and as the #1 Middle Market Leader by the Charlotte Business Journal.
The firm is currently building the Centro RailYard Apartments in Charlotte. While this is slated to finish in late 2019, the project is much-anticipated for its unique no-frills take on community development. The developers banked on South End’s burgeoning neighborhood, so Edifice is building units that are smaller in unit and community size. Minus the amenities, the apartment community is expected to be more affordable for future tenants.
Samet Corporation
5605 Carnegie Blvd. Suite #220, Charlotte, NC 28209
Founded in 1961, Samet Corporation has enjoyed decades of consistent growth under the leadership of its founder and chairman, Norman Samet. It offers construction and property development services, making sure that its projects help each of its clients fulfill their financial goals. The firm is a recipient of multiple awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors, and has ranked on lists released by Multifamily Executive and Engineering News-Record.
Inspire SouthPark is one of its latest projects in Charlotte. To build the multifamily project, Samet Corporation consulted residents and business owners in the area to understand what they want to see in a community. Inside the community, the firm built Happy Tails. It is Charlotte’s first-ever indoor dog daycare and play area in collaboration with Skipper, a dog-walking service company. Samet Corporation also enlisted the help of local artists, Osiris Rain and Matthew Hooker to create unique murals throughout Inspire SouthPark. Charlotte residents are also welcomed to the active lifestyle community’s staffed coffee shop, Inspire Coffee, and the Vibe5 yoga classes held at its fitness areas.
Brasfield and Gorrie
521 E. Morehead St. Suite #100, Charlotte, NC 28202
Brasfield and Gorrie traces its roots to the then Thos C. Brasfield Company, a general contracting firm founded in 1921. Four decades later, Miller Gorrie bought all the company’s construction assets, and renamed the company in 1967. Since then, it has quickly expanded to become a national contractor that serves clients in the large commercial, industrial, and multifamily industries. It has been operating for more than 20 years in the Charlotte market, and has worked with key clients like Pappas Properties, Crescent Communities, and Duke Energy.
The firm was Terwilliger Pappas’ chosen contractor for the Solis Southline, a 300-unit apartment community in Southend. It offers spacious units with stylish finishes, including lacquer cabinets, quartz countertops, and luxury plank flooring. Brasfield and Gorrie also built community amenities including a courtyard, saltwater pools, rock wall climbing wall, and a gaming studio.
Choate Construction
2907 Providence Rd. Suite #400, Charlotte, NC 28211
Choate Construction was founded as a basement-startup in 1989, during the challenging years of recession in the U.S. However, it has flourished into one of the country’s most outstanding contractors. Over the last few years, it has consistently ranked on Engineering News-Record’s lists of Top Design-Build Contractors, Top General Contractors, and Top Private Sector Contractors. It has also won ENR Best Project Awards, and Excellence in Construction Awards from ABC.
The firm built the Metropolitan at Midtown, a mixed-use project that revitalized a neglected neighborhood in Charlotte. The 14-acre site was where Charlotte’s first-ever enclosed mall stood, and was turned into a thriving retail and condominium center. Its residential area is comprised of the MetLofts and MetTerraces, which features units with open floor plans, high ceilings, and oversized windows.
JE Dunn
1616 Camden Rd. Suite #400, Charlotte, NC 28203
Established in 1924, JE Dunn is a general contracting firm that offers its expertise in construction management and design-build to clients across the country. With an annual revenue of $3.2 billion in 2017, it ranked 25th on the Top 400 Contractors list of Engineering News-Record, and was also declared the #2 Largest Company in Charlotte by the Charlotte Business Journal. Its work has also appeared in the Commercial Property Executive, and Construction Dive.
In 2014, it completed the construction of Element Uptown, a 352-unit, energy star-certified apartment building. Units include floor-to-ceiling windows that afford unobstructed views of the urban landscape. JE Dunn installed high-end and modern finishes: hardwood plank flooring, key fob entrances, a fitness club with a yoga studio, and a saltwater pool with lounge areas.
Balfour Beatty
1930 Camden Rd. Suite 280, Charlotte, NC 28203
Balfour Beatty is a general contracting firm that specializes in design-build and at-risk construction management. Since its founding in 1909, it has grown to offer its services throughout the country, and has been consistently ranked as one of the United States’ largest building contractors by Engineering News-Record. Its Carolinas office is headed by President Pat Dean, who has successfully grown the company into the largest contractor in the state. Under his leadership, the firm has worked on important projects, including 300 South Tryon in Uptown Charlotte, and the Hotel Bennett in Charleston. Its work has been featured in Building Design + Construction, Construction Dive, and in the Charlotte Business Journal.
Among its best work in Charlotte is The Mint Apartments, built for Spectrum Properties in 2015. The 177-unit luxury apartment was built over two-levels of cast-in-place parking. The building overlooks the BB&T Baseball Ballpark and the Bank of America Stadium. The multimillion-dollar project involved building a fitness center, a yoga studio, a dog park, and a resort-like pool and deck.
How can I find a contractor near me?
Read our latest articles on the best contractors in and near Charlotte. If you don’t see your project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
Hotel and Hospitality Contractors in Charlotte
General Contractors in Charlotte
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a multifamily project, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.