CopeGrand Homes’ founders share insights into their approach to project management
Renowned as Charleston’s top custom home builder, CopeGrand Homes (CopeGrand) excels in crafting tailored home designs and client experiences that make each homeowner’s dream a reality. At CopeGrand, its unique approach is not just about building but providing an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. To fully realize each client’s unique vision, the company begins with a deep understanding of their desires and lifestyle, as well as the specific features they want in their new home. Twin brothers Adam and Ben Copenhaver, Founders and Co-owners, recognized a gap in the industry that impacted their business, employee, and client experiences. This led them to refine their skills and create CopeGrand to provide truly personalized custom home experiences. Adam provides more insights into the establishment of the company.
“Ben and I created CopeGrand together in Charleston, South Carolina about ten years ago. From the beginning, our focus has specifically been on building the most robust team of project managers and pre-construction experts. With our Dream Team here at CopeGrand, we invest a great deal of additional time and attention to organize, plan and manage our clients’ financial goals to maximize their investment and property value, and therefore, their enjoyment of their dream homes. We have come a long way in our development of our process, and we are certainly very proud of our Team here at CopeGrand. Each are absolutely professionals in each of their roles,” he opens.
Balanced approach
Charleston is known for offering countless homebuilding opportunities, which empower CopeGrand to undertake a wide variety of projects. “Being in the Lowcountry, which is prone to flooding and is home to many historic sites, Charleston is uniquely diverse. As a result, we have developed expertise in a number of areas, though we particularly excel in hurricane-fortified and flood-prepared homes. We also specialize in historic restoration and preservation, as well as classic Lowcountry and contemporary architecture. In recent years, we have also expanded our focus to include modern architecture. Most of the clients we attract and focus on are looking for distinctive homes, value quality and their time, and want to protect their investments by choosing the right team,” Adam says.
Working together as twin brothers adds another dimension to Adam and Ben’s partnership. Ben explains how he and Adam hold different roles on the team while bringing their own distinct contributions to CopeGrand’s operations. “Having grown up together our whole lives, Adam and I developed a strong bond and relationship. We understand where each of our strengths are and we establish our roles accordingly, but we know each others’ roles very well. This allows us to cover two fronts at the same time, which is a very unique advantage for us, as we understand each other’s thinking and are in lockstep whether we’re on the same project site or two different ones. After our initial meeting with our clients, Adam handles the pre-construction and organization of getting the jobs started alongside his pre-construction team, architects, and engineers until we have a permit-ready set of plans. Past that point, my role starts to become more prominent, as we begin working with the vertical team, project management selections, and our clients, and carry it all the way through to post-closing, ensuring the project is fully completed. In essence, Adam and I are like yin and yang, balancing each other’s contributions and strengths.”
Continuous improvement
Although their roles are very distinct, both Ben and Adam adopt an in-depth approach to project management, which has substantially contributed to CopeGrand’s overall success. “We’re able to plan and execute on the best and most challenging projects because our focus has remained on building the best team,” says Ben. “Collaboration and continued education on tried-and-true building techniques as well as adopting new best practices remains vital for us. We place significant emphasis on proper and effective communication. To this end, we hold weekly meetings dedicated to training and development, ensuring continuous improvement as a result. This practice has reverberated throughout our team, our trade partners, and makes true and distinct difference in our clients’ experience. Having the right individuals in these keys roles is crucial. We could not deliver our Grand Experience without the exceptional efforts of our Dream Team project management team.”
Special project
One of the brothers’ most memorable projects is Amberjack, a house they are particularly proud of. Architect Daniel Beck designed this home for the owners who had outgrown their previous residence and sought more space to enjoy oceanside living. They envisioned a home where the indoors effortlessly transitioned to the outdoors, allowing them to spend more time outside. Although aesthetically pleasing, the home’s structure, details, and material specifications is what initially excited the team at CopeGrand. This was a home that was designed to be capable of being a legacy and generational home for the family as it sits Oceanfront and is the first to feel mother nature’s abuse as well as the wrath of storms. The CopeGrand team ensured that every detail from the architect and engineer, no matter how small, was flawlessly executed, resulting in a stunningly unique high-quality home. The finished property features elevated cast concrete decks with hidden drains for a seamless and aesthetically pleasing look, as well as excellent resilience to maintenance and storms. Atop the Ipe wood decking is a Sikalastic waterproof membrane and sleeper system, enhancing the deck’s durability, function, and longevity.
Furthermore, the Amberjack project boasts a superior oceanfront waterproofing system, which protects against moisture, salt spray, and other corrosive elements, ensuring the structural integrity and longevity of the home. The footing and foundation of the house was designed to last generations, built on top of driven piles to withstand almost any storm. CopeGrand utilized cast in place concrete, steel moment frames, structural systems consisting of vertical columns, horizontal beams, and connections that resist bending moments from horizontal forces. As a result, the house is not only durable but also capable of resisting lateral loads that cause side sway or racking.
Alongside its superior design and build expertise, CopeGrand’s commitment to personalized service and exceptional project management have made it the leader in the custom home experience in Charleston.