Charleston, S.C. – The Keith Corporation, owner and developer of IFA’s existing Charleston Trade Center building, is expanding the automotive supplier’s facility by 211,000 square feet, bringing the total size to 487,000 square feet. To build the project, The Keith Corporation has partnered with Frampton Construction Company, LLC, a regional full-service construction firm providing planning and design support, preconstruction, and construction services.

The new space will be constructed using tilt-up concrete panels and structural steel with ceilings providing a 32’ clearance height. The expansion is critical to IFA’s growth as they move out of their current Ladson, S.C., facility to consolidate their South Carolina operations into one location. The expanded area will provide over 30,000 square feet of Class A office space for the relocation of IFA’s administrative and executive staff. Construction on the expansion is underway and is expected to be complete by June of 2020.

Alan Lewis, managing partner of The Keith Corporation’s Industrial Division, said, “IFA’s expansion within Charleston Trade Center adds further growth to the park’s robust year. We’re excited to help IFA consolidate their operations and look forward to watching them continue to grow.”

The project comes on the heels of two other Charleston Trade Center projects developed by The Keith Corporation and Frampton Construction in 2019. A 136,500 square foot speculative building was completed in July and is currently for lease. Next door, a 144,000 square foot manufacturing facility for Curtiss-Wright is due to be finished next month. The company is expected to begin operations there in early 2020.

“We’re honored to have the chance to team with IFA on another significant project and to help them increase their footprint in this thriving market. The expanded facility demonstrates confidence in their own and the region’s potential,” noted Joey Smith, director at Frampton Construction.

Additional partners on the project include McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, WGPM Engineering, and Alliance Consulting Engineers.

IFA turns over 650 Million Euro (2017) annually and employs 3,000 staff. It ranks among the Top 50 German automotive parts suppliers. IFA is market leader for propeller shafts in Europe and in the United States of America. They aim to grow to be ranked among the Top 100 largest automotive parts suppliers worldwide. For more information, visit https://ifa-group.com/en/.

The Keith Corporation is a privately-held, full service owner and developer of industrial, warehouse, and other commercial properties in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Keith Corporation has become one of the country’s most well-respected build-to-suit developers. Having delivered over 300 projects and more than 25 million square feet of manufacturing, distribution, industrial, and commercial space for a highly diverse corporate clientele, The Keith Corporation has developed a reputation for their accountability, expertise, and total client satisfaction on all projects. For more information, go to www.thekeithcorp.com or call 704-365-6000.

Frampton Construction is a regional full-service construction firm offering planning and design support, preconstruction, and construction services. The dedicated team of professionals takes pride in building strong relationships with clients while providing the highest quality of service. They deliver executive leadership and personal oversight throughout the building process, while working diligently to exceed the expectations of every client. With offices in Charleston, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., the company is positioned to manage projects in the Carolinas and beyond. For more information, please visit http://frampton.construction/ or call 843-572-2400.