CarolinaPower Wins ABC's "Best in Class" Excellence in Construction Award, also Wins 2025 Project-of-the-Year

CarolinaPower, a leading employee-owned, regional electrical contractor with four offices in South Carolina, received top honors during the Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas) 2025 Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards gala held in Charlotte on November 6.

CarolinaPower received the "Best in Class" Eagle Award — the highest-level award — for its exemplary work on Clemson University's new Alumni and Visitors Center, which officially opened in April 2025. CarolinaPower’s winning entry was in the Specialty Contracting/Electrical, $5 million-$10 million category. After much anticipation, at the end of the evening, CarolinaPower’s project was unveiled as the 2025 Project of the Year!

Clemson University’s new Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center sets a high standard for campus sustainability, design, and user experience. Located on the shores of Lake Hartwell next to the University’s Walker Golf Course, the five-story, 105,000-square-foot facility consolidates key student- and alumni-facing departments under one roof, creating a centralized hub that reflects the full Clemson journey.

"The Nieri Family Alumni and Visitor Center furthers Clemson University’s commitment to excellence by providing an unmatched arrival experience for first-time visitors and alumni alike. It is extremely rewarding to be recognized by the Carolinas construction community for our role in delivering the electrical scope for such a landmark project," said Chris Moore, President of Carolina Power.

CarolinaPower’s project leadership boasted four Clemson alumni, all of whom felt a special personal connection to the project. In fact, Tiger pride emanated from the entire project team. More than 20 Clemson alumni were involved in the overall project – from CarolinaPower, to general contractor Brasifeld & Gorrie, to the architects and engineers, and the Clemson Facilities department.

CarolinaPower Vice President Travis Oswald – a proud Tiger himself – noted, “For CarolinaPower, this high-profile project demanded creativity, adaptability, and strong coordination to deliver a successful outcome. The cross-laminated timber (CLT) design brought unique challenges, requiring that we strategically coordinate fixture placement to conceal connections, painting conduit to blend with surrounding finishes or hiding it behind other ceiling features. The resulting value for the University is a signature building element free from distracting electrical clutter, enhancing the visitor experience and architectural integrity.”

ABC Carolinas’ Annual EIC Awards competition is open to general contractors and specialty contractors in the two-state region.