BL Harbert International, based in the Birmingham area, wrapped up its work on the high-profile Timbers Kiawah — Ocean Club & Residences on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, toward the end of 2018. The boutique club, on 3.5 oceanfront acres, features resort style amenities and includes 18, 3-bedroom units and three 4-bedroom penthouses, says Matthew Waddell, BL Harbert International project executive. “We developed an excellent relationship with Timbers Resorts through our work on Kiawah and a following Kauai project,” he says. “We are pursuing other projects with Timbers, as well.”
In addition to three residential buildings, the community has a private clubhouse with restaurant, lounge and fitness facility and a private beach club with oceanfront pool and beach services. Each of the 21 residences features high-end finishes and furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terraces. Coastal style interiors were created by J. Banks Design and architecture was provided by Poss Architecture + Planning.
Timbers Kiawah is the first private residence club to be built oceanfront on the island and the first residential development built oceanfront in 30 years. While the secluded location of the property is desirable to buyers, it created a number of construction challenges, Waddell says. Getting workers, supplies, equipment and concrete mixers on and off the island wasn’t easy.
Both hurricane and earthquake codes had to be met. “People don’t think of the coast of South Carolina as an earthquake zone, but it’s like California as far as construction requirements,” Waddell says.
To top things off, the BL Harbert team faced unusual weather events — including snow and a 1,000-year rain event, as well as two hurricanes — that put a major strain on the construction schedule. “Stopping and starting up construction is always time consuming, but we pulled together and did what we needed to do to complete the project safely,” Waddell says.
