Commercial General Contracting
Buildouts that mean business.
Questions we hear often
What drives commercial build-out cost?
Commercial build-out cost around the Charleston metro depends on the space and the use, not a city average. What is already there matters most: walls, ceilings, restrooms, HVAC, power and plumbing, and whether they fit the new use. Who furnishes equipment, storefront and finishes also moves the number. Two suites the same size can land far apart.
3 Rivers Commercial Construction is a commercial general contractor serving the Charleston metro, up to $3 million in total project cost. We don't publish prices online. For qualified projects we can talk through an early planning range after we understand the space.
It's not a bid, quote or offer. A firm price comes only in a written proposal based on drawings or a defined scope, and it's binding only in a contract signed by both parties.
Request a consultation or call 843-259-2980.
Do I need a permit for a commercial renovation?
Commercial projects around the Charleston metro almost always need a building permit. Building permits exist mainly to protect the public and employees. Very few commercial projects skip a building permit, and that is typically only when the work is maintenance. For a new tenant, the design team prepares life safety plans plus the other plans and reviews the building department requires — and the fire marshal, where it applies. That package is required, not optional. Your local building department decides for the parcel.
Around the Charleston metro, the parcel decides whether a city, a town or the county reviews the project, not the mailing address. A plain path looks like: use check, landlord plan review (if required), plan review, fire marshal where it applies, inspections, then a certificate of occupancy or completion when the building department issues one.
On commercial projects, the general contractor manages the building permit and inspections for the work it is hired to build, using drawings from the owner's design team. The building department makes the approval decisions. 3RC does not decide use, and we don't guarantee a permit or a certificate of occupancy.
We can connect you with a design team you hire directly and coordinate construction from their drawings with our trade partners. Your design team decides what drawings and engineering you need. We build the project; we don't design it.
Request a consultation or call 843-259-2980.
How long does a commercial build-out take?
How long a commercial build-out takes around the Charleston metro is the sum of steps, each with its own drivers. We don't publish timing ranges, because those would be guesses about a space we haven't seen.
Common steps: confirm the use and which office reviews the parcel; hire your design team; complete drawings and settle major equipment; landlord plan review if required; building plan review and any fire marshal review; permit issued; construction and inspections; then occupancy or completion when the building department signs off.
What you control early can move the schedule: complete drawings, a settled equipment list, and prompt answers to review comments. Construction starts after the permit is issued. Work in an occupied space is possible when it can be done safely, and phasing can add time and cost.
3 Rivers Commercial Construction is a commercial general contractor in the Charleston metro.
Request a consultation or call 843-259-2980.
Who is 3 Rivers Commercial Construction?
3 Rivers Commercial Construction (3RC Contracting) - legal name 3 Rivers Commercial LLC - is a commercial general contractor based at 4900 O'Hear Ave., Suite 100, North Charleston, SC 29405. Our team and trade partners serve Charleston, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Ladson and Moncks Corner, and statewide in South Carolina for projects that fit. We build tenant upfits, offices, medical and therapy spaces, restaurants, bars, bakeries, coffee shops, gyms, churches, metal buildings and new construction, up to $3 million in total project cost. Bennett has been in construction since 2012; 3RC is his third business.
We don't provide design services. We can connect you with a design team you hire directly and coordinate construction from their drawings with our trade partners. Your design team decides what drawings and engineering you need. We build the project; we don't design it.
Request a consultation or call 843-259-2980.
Who Are We?
Owners and tenants hire 3 Rivers Commercial Construction as their commercial general contractor for tenant upfits, offices, medical and therapy spaces, restaurants, bars, bakeries, coffee shops, gyms, churches, metal buildings and new construction. Our team and trade partners serve the Charleston metro: Charleston, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Ladson and Moncks Corner, and statewide in South Carolina for projects that fit.
We take on commercial construction projects up to $3 million in total project cost, including tenant upfits and remodels. Bennett has been in construction since 2012; 3RC is his third business.
We can connect you with a design team you hire directly and coordinate construction from their drawings with our trade partners. Your design team decides what drawings and engineering you need. We build the project; we don’t design it.
Request a consultation or call 843-259-2980.
Services
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Conceptual Pre-Construction
Our pre-construction services encompass meticulous planning and preparatory activities, such as feasibility studies, budgeting, and value engineering. We help you turn a business idea into a clear, buildable scope, working alongside your design team, and give you an early planning range, not a bid, before you commit.
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Working with your design team
We can connect you with a design team you hire directly and coordinate construction from their drawings with our trade partners. Your design team decides what drawings and engineering you need. We build the project; we don’t design it.
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Plan and Spec Construction
Plan and spec construction, also known as design-bid-build, involves a sequential process where the project's design is completed before bidding for construction. The client hires an architect to create detailed plans and specifications, which are then put out to bid for construction by general contractors, leading to a more traditional and segmented approach to project delivery
We take on commercial construction projects up to $3 million in total project cost, including tenant upfits and remodels. We scope each job to the space, the use and the drawings, and build it with our team and trade partners. Industries we serve:
Brewery and Restaurant
We build out restaurants, bars, bakeries and coffee shops, and we understand the intricacies of your business. We work with you and your designer to build a space that fits your brand and the experience you want your customers to have.
Medical
We cater to a diverse range of industries including veterinary offices, dental practices, and medical office buildings, comprehensively addressing their specialized requirements by building spaces that integrate the necessary equipment and infrastructure.
Office Space
Whether you're converting an existing building into office space or building out space for a growing business, we build work environments that fit your company's culture and the way your team works.
Community
From community centers to welcoming fellowship halls, we recognize the vital role that community plays in our lives. Our mission is to assist in constructing spaces that foster connection, unity, and shared experiences, helping to strengthen and enrich the fabric of your community.
Service and Retail
From a clothing boutique to a tire shop, we treat each space with care and pay attention to the details, whatever the business.
Quality
At 3 Rivers Commercial Construction, quality starts with a clear written scope and steady communication. Our team and trade partners build to the drawings, and we keep you informed as the work moves along.
Areas we serve
See our town pages below.
Let’s work together.
Interested in working together? Tell us about your project, and we'll follow up with a few questions.
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