R.J. Leeper Construction

What R.J. Leeper Construction does

R.J. Leeper Construction is a privately held general contractor and construction manager founded in 1994 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with additional offices in Raleigh and Wilmington. Since 2021 the company has operated as a subsidiary of Bright Hope Construction, LLC, a Charlotte-based minority-focused investment firm co-founded by Malcomb Coley, Hugh McColl, and Lloyd Yates. Across three decades the firm has delivered pre-construction, construction management, general contracting, design-build, and program-management services spanning K-12 and higher-education facilities, healthcare construction, commercial buildings, sports and entertainment venues, and — since 2023 — self-performed industrial electrical and civil works. Delivery is anchored in CMAR and Integrated Project Delivery methods, LEED-accredited sustainable design practices, and a Workforce Development Strategic Solutions (WDSS) function that supplies diversity and talent-pipeline value to owners with supplier-diversity mandates.

The firm monetizes services through professional-services fees on management engagements and contractor markups on construction delivery, priced on a project-by-project basis. Contract values vary widely by scope and method, ranging from multi-million-dollar tenant improvements to multi-hundred-million-dollar civic and institutional projects. The go-to-market combines competitive bidding for public-sector work and direct negotiation for private clients; approximately 40 named project wins and joint ventures are documented in the source material, spanning Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond programs (>$4.2B cumulative across four referenda in 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2023), Scotts Hill Hospital, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte Convention Center, The Pearl CLT, Bank of America Stadium renovation, and the Novant Health Performance Center. The largest concentrations of revenue exposure sit in education (CMS), healthcare (Atrium Health/Novant), and public infrastructure, accessed primarily through joint ventures with national firms such as LeChase, Jacobs, Rodgers Builders, Whiting-Turner, Holder Construction, Edison Foard, Clark Construction, and Gilbane. In 2025 the firm appointed Lorie Spratley as President following four years of management-committee governance.

Name

R.J. Leeper Construction

Legal name

R.J. Leeper Construction

Website

https://leeperconstruction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

R.J. Leeper Construction is a Charlotte-based general contractor and construction manager founded in 1994, delivering pre-construction, CMAR, design-build, and program-management services across education, healthcare, commercial, and sports/entertainment projects for public-sector and institutional clients in North and South Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Construction Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Industrial Building Construction (23621), All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (238990)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Management (Agency/Owner’s Rep) (IMAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAA), Self-Performing General Contractors (IMAFAAAI), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Commercial construction
• Construction management
• General contracting
• Design-build services
• Industrial construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Construction Management Services: Full-service construction management overseeing planning, design, and construction of projects from inception through completion and closeout. Revenue generated through management fees and project markups.
2. General Contracting: Traditional general contracting services for commercial, educational, healthcare, and sports/entertainment construction projects. Revenue from contractor fees and project execution.
3. Design-Build Services: Integrated design and construction services under single contract, streamlining project administration for owners. Revenue from combined design and construction fees.
4. Pre-Construction Services: Feasibility studies, budgeting, scheduling, and comprehensive preconstruction planning. Revenue from consulting fees prior to construction phase.
5. Industrial Construction (Electrical & Civil): Specialized electrical and civil construction services for industrial projects, including site preparation, wiring systems, lighting, earthwork, utilities, and paving.
6. Program Management: Long-term program management for major clients like Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, overseeing implementation of substantial bond programs across multiple projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

R.J. Leeper Construction is a commercial construction services firm that delivers pre-construction, construction management, general contracting, design-build, and program/project management services for education, healthcare, commercial, and sports and entertainment clients. The company supplements these services with self-performed industrial electrical and civil construction capabilities, and operates an internal workforce development program to support clients' diversity and supplier inclusion goals.

Product overview

R.J. Leeper Construction is a commercial construction services company offering a comprehensive suite of construction-related services rather than a traditional software product. The company provides pre-construction, construction management, general contracting, design-build, and program/project management services. The portfolio includes two industrial verticals (Electrical and Civil) established in 2023. The company also operates Workforce Development Strategic Solutions (WDSS), an internal department connecting talent with construction opportunities. Services span multiple markets including education, healthcare, commercial, and sports & entertainment construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Construction Services Feasibility studies, budgeting, and scheduling services that lay the foundation for a successful construction project for public and private owners.
• Construction Management Oversees planning, design, and construction phases for commercial, educational, healthcare, and sports projects, coordinating all aspects to ensure seamless project execution.
• General Contracting Full-service construction delivery managing all project details from start to finish for commercial, educational, healthcare, and sports and entertainment clients, ensuring on-time and on-budget completion.
• Design-Build Integrated design and construction services under a single contract, streamlining project administration for owners across commercial, education, healthcare, and industrial projects.
• Program and Project Management Long-term program management for major clients, including oversight of multi-billion-dollar bond programs such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, delivering projects from inception through completion and closeout on time and within budget.
• Industrial Electrical Services Comprehensive electrical services for industrial facilities, including complex wiring systems and advanced lighting solutions, performed by an in-house division to give greater control over cost, quality, and schedule.
• Industrial Civil Services Self-performed site preparation, earthwork, utilities, and paving services launched as an in-house division to provide greater control over project timelines, quality, and costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully managed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond programs totaling over $3.7 billion since 1996
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and supporting.

• Clark Construction GroupkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Joint venture partner for $800 million Bank of America Stadium renovation project starting 2026. Partnership with D.A. Everett Construction Group for this major Charlotte sports venue upgrade.
• D.A. Everett Construction GroupkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Joint venture partner with Clark Construction Group and Leeper for $800 million Bank of America Stadium renovation. Project approved by Charlotte city council and primarily funded by city with $650M in debt.
• LeChase ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025Long-standing joint venture partner in the Tri-Venture with Jacobs for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools program management since 1996. Both companies co-sponsored Charlotte Minority Enterprise Development Week. LeChase and Leeper JV has successfully managed over $3.7 billion in CMS bond programs.
• Atrium HealthkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Healthcare system partner in The Pearl CLT development alongside Wake Forest School of Medicine and Wexford Science & Technology. The project includes office, lab, retail, residential spaces, and affordable housing anchored by Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte.
• Wexford Science & TechnologykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Development partner for The Pearl CLT mixed-use project in collaboration with Atrium Health and Wake Forest School of Medicine, representing cutting-edge life sciences and technology development.
• Wake Forest School of MedicinekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Medical education partner for The Pearl CLT, anchoring the development with Charlotte's first four-year medical school (Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte).
• Holder ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint venture partner for Charlotte Douglas International Airport expansion including Central Energy Plant (initiated January 2020) and Terminal Lobby Expansion with additional security lanes, ticketing, baggage claim, and elevated roadway canopy.
• Edison Foard ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint venture partner for Charlotte Douglas International Airport Central Energy Plant and Terminal Lobby Expansion project alongside Holder Construction and Leeper.
• Jacobs ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Tri-venture partner with LeChase for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools capital improvements program management. JV has overseen CMS bond programs totaling billions including the 2007 ($516M), 2013 ($301M), 2017 ($922M), and 2023 ($2.5B) referenda.
• Rodgers BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for Scotts Hill Hospital (194,693 sq ft healthcare facility in Wilmington) and Central Piedmont Community College Parr Center (183,000 sq ft facility). Both projects demonstrate successful partnership in healthcare and education construction.
• Whiting-Turner ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for The Pearl CLT, a transformative multi-phased mixed-use development in collaboration with Atrium Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Wexford Science & Technology. Development includes Charlotte's first four-year medical school.
• Gilbane Building Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture contractor partner for Novant Health Performance Center construction for Charlotte Hornets. Partnership includes franchise, city, and community leaders, with participation from NBA alumni.
• CAA IconsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultant to Charlotte Hornets for Novant Health Performance Center project. Project team includes Populous as architect and design firm, with Gilbane and Leeper as contractors.
• PopuloussupportingTechnology or IntegrationArchitect and design firm for Charlotte Hornets Novant Health Performance Center project. Global architecture firm specializing in sports and entertainment venues.
• Novant HealthkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnering with Charlotte Hornets for new training center (Novant Health Performance Center) with Gilbane and Leeper as contractors.
• Charlotte Minority Enterprise Development (MED) WeeksupportingOthersAnnual event celebrating minority-owned businesses. LeChase and Tri-Venture (Leeper, Jacobs) were both sponsors. Regional Director Denise Barnes presented Outstanding Achievement Award for Professional Services.
• Urban League of Central CarolinassupportingOthersCommunity organization partnered with Leeper and construction partners for hiring events to fill construction jobs at The Pearl project.
• NCWorks Career CentersupportingOthersWorkforce development partner hosting hiring events with Leeper and Urban League to connect job seekers with construction opportunities at The Pearl CLT project.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Holder Construction: Atlanta-based commercial construction manager specializing in healthcare, aviation, sports, and mission-critical projects. Holder is a Leeper JV partner on the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Central Energy Plant and Terminal Lobby Expansion, mirroring Leeper's pursuit of large-scale, technically demanding public-sector and healthcare work in the Southeast.
• LeChase Construction: Rochester, NY-based construction manager and general contractor with strong education, healthcare, and higher-education portfolios. LeChase has been Leeper's Tri-Venture partner with Jacobs for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools program management since 1996, co-implementing over $3.7B in CMS bond programs and co-sponsoring MED Week, making it a directly comparable, longer-tenured peer.
• Rodgers Builders: Charlotte-based commercial general contractor and construction manager focused on healthcare, education, and corporate projects. Rodgers is simultaneously Leeper's closest direct competitor in the Charlotte market and its most frequent JV partner (Scotts Hill Hospital, Central Piedmont Community College Parr Center), making it the single most comparable peer.
• Brasfield & Gorrie: Birmingham-based regional general contractor with strong Southeast presence in healthcare, education, commercial, and sports construction. As one of the largest privately held U.S. GCs serving the same Sun Belt geographies and vertical mix as Leeper, Brasfield & Gorrie is a directly comparable regional peer.
• Robins & Morton: Birmingham-based, employee-owned general contractor focused on healthcare, education, and commercial construction across the Southeast. Robins & Morton is comparable on company size, regional footprint, vertical mix, and reliance on repeat healthcare and education clients in adjacent Sun Belt geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Whiting-Turner Contracting Company: National construction management and general contracting firm with deep healthcare, higher-education, life-sciences, and commercial presence. Whiting-Turner is Leeper's JV partner on The Pearl CLT (alongside Atrium Health, Wake Forest, and Wexford), operating at the same premium tier of flagship mixed-use medical and life-sciences projects Leeper is targeting.
• Clark Construction Group: National general contractor and construction manager with marquee sports, civic, healthcare, and higher-ed projects across the U.S. Clark is Leeper's JV partner on the $800M Bank of America Stadium renovation alongside D.A. Everett, comparable on project scale and delivery model (CMAR/IPD on civic/sports infrastructure).
• Gilbane Building Company: National construction manager and builder focused on healthcare, education, sports, and mission-critical projects. Gilbane is Leeper's JV partner on the Novant Health Performance Center for the Charlotte Hornets, operating on the same premium-tier sport/healthcare builds that define Leeper's regional portfolio.
• JE Dunn Construction: Top-ten national general contractor with significant healthcare, higher-education, sports, and aviation portfolios across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. JE Dunn operates in adjacent geographies and verticals and competes for many of the same mid-to-large healthcare and civic projects Leeper targets via JVs.
• Balfour Beatty US: National general contractor with substantial higher-education, healthcare, and public-sector construction presence across the Carolinas and Southeast. Balfour Beatty competes with Leeper (often on opposite sides of CMAR and design-build bids) for many of the same K-12, higher-ed, and civic opportunities Leeper targets through its CMS incumbency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RJLeeperConstruction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rjleeperconstruction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about R.J. Leeper Construction