CHARLESTON, S.C.—Construction is getting underway at a 4,500-acre master planned community near Charleston, S.C. known as Nexton. MeadWestvaco (MWV) Corporation and The Rockefeller Group broke ground on the first building, a 100,000-square-foot class A facility aiming for LEED certification.

Nexus is located at Interstate 26 and US Highway 17A between exit 199 and the future exit 197. The first building will sit at the entrance of the campus, which will ultimately include offices, hotels, apartments, parks and trails, dining, entertainment, and shopping.

Kenneth T. Seeger, president of MWV Community Development and Land Management, explains that “Nexton is grounded in several cornerstones—technology, choices, and healthy, efficient living.” He called the new building “a focal point for the first phase of Nexton.”

The four-story building will feature contemporary design, LED external lighting and native plants in the landscaping. The project also plans for high-efficiency vehicle spaces in prime locations, along with bike racks to encourage alternative modes of transportation. A portion of the class A office space will house MWV. Colliers International is leasing the remaining space.

“Nexton offers convenient access to the entire Charleston region and provides an excellent alternative to companies that want outstanding office space but do not need to be located in downtown Charleston,” says Ed Guiltinan, vice president and regional director of development for Rockefeller. “The office space we are developing will be high-quality, class A space, which will be unique in the Summerville market and for which we anticipate strong demand.”

Summerville continues to grow rapidly, according to Summerville's Mayor Bill Collins. As he sees it, that growth needs to be managed properly to maintain quality of life there.

“MWV's comprehensive Nexton project should be a game changer for our town and the region,” Collins says. “MWV's corporate office will be the largest single office building permitted in Summerville in recent memory and the first class A space in our town.”

Charleston-based Landmark Construction will complete the site work. Choate Construction has been named the general contractor for the building.

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