Brownstone

What Brownstone does

Brownstone is a full-service construction management and architecture firm founded in 2005 by Dale Collier in Columbia, South Carolina. The firm delivers three integrated service lines: construction management (agency CM and CM at-risk), architectural design spanning master planning through design and cost-estimating, and program management for large-scale multi-project capital programs. It serves institutional clients across four primary verticals — K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, and municipal/cultural — operating from offices in South Carolina (Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Bluffton), North Carolina (Charlotte, Greensboro), and Georgia (Savannah).

The business operates as a B2B professional services firm, generating revenue through professional service fees on construction management contracts and design commissions. Work is secured predominantly through competitive public-sector bidding, supported by credentials including SBA, DBE, and SDF designations. The firm has cultivated long-duration client relationships — most notably Charleston County School District since 2005 — that drive repeat program mandates. Disclosed major engagements include the $1.3B Guilford County Schools capital program, a $515M Guilford County maintenance program, the $134M Spartanburg High School project, a $60M Dillon School District building program, and a follow-on $40M Dillon elementary school, alongside repeat work for districts across the Carolinas and engagements with the Medical University of South Carolina, Georgia Ports Authority, and the City of Charleston.

In July 2025, Brownstone was acquired by CSL Consulting LLC, a portfolio company of NMS Capital, and now operates as "Brownstone, a CSL Company." The firm uses no proprietary technology platforms, relying instead on standard construction management methodologies and architectural design software; no AI/ML capabilities, headcount figures, revenue figures, or funding-round history are disclosed in the available material. Operating presence has expanded from a single Columbia office to five locations across three southeastern states over its 20-year history.

Name

Brownstone

Legal name

Brownstone Construction Group

Website

https://bstonegroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brownstone is a full-service construction management and architecture firm delivering agency CM, CM at-risk, architectural design, and program management services to K-12, higher education, healthcare, and municipal clients across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Management Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Construction management services
• Architectural design services
• Program management
• Building program management
• Public sector construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction Management Services: Agency Construction Management and Construction Management at-Risk services where Brownstone oversees and leads construction projects on behalf of owners. The firm manages project scope, budget, timeline, and coordinates with contractors, architects, and vendors. Revenue is generated through professional service fees on managed construction projects.
2. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture and design capabilities including master planning, programming, design, and cost-estimating. The firm employs registered architects with over 40 years of combined experience in design and planning across various project types.
3. Program Management: Managing large-scale building programs for school districts and municipalities, overseeing multiple projects, contracts, and capital improvement programs spanning multi-year timelines. Examples include $60M Dillon School District building program and $1.3B Guilford County Schools capital program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Brownstone is a full-service construction management and architecture firm that delivers agency construction management, construction management at-risk contracting, architectural design (master planning, programming, design, and cost-estimating), and program management services for large-scale institutional building programs. The firm serves K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, healthcare systems, and municipal governments across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, overseeing projects from pre-design through certificate of occupancy.

Product overview

Brownstone is a full-service construction management and architecture firm offering three integrated service lines: Construction Management (agency CM and CM at-risk), Architectural Design (master planning through design), and Program Management (managing large building programs). Founded in 2005, the firm operates five offices across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, serving K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, municipal, and cultural sectors. The company was acquired by CSL Consulting LLC (a portfolio company of NMS Capital) in July 2025 and now operates as Brownstone, a CSL Company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Construction Management
• Architectural Design Full-service architectural and design capabilities including master planning, programming, design, and cost-estimating. Brownstone employs registered architects with over 40 years of combined working history in design and planning across various project types including civic buildings and school district facilities.
• Program Management Management of large-scale building programs for school districts and municipalities, including oversight of critical construction and renovation projects from schematic design through certificate of occupancy. Examples include the $60M Dillon School District Four 2021-2024 building program and the $1.3B Guilford County Schools capital program, as well as a $515M maintenance program covering 100% of schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Decker Center renovation completed over $1.5 million under budget
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• MB KahnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone partnered with MB Kahn and HDR as program managers for the Richland Penny Program, the first transportation penny program in Richland County history.
• HDRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone partnered with MB Kahn and HDR as program managers for the Richland Penny Program. Brownstone was responsible for design of greenway, bikeway, sidewalk, and pedestrian improvement projects and administered procurement services.
• Turner ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone teamed with Turner Construction to provide construction management at-risk services for the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, SC.
• Robins & MortonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone joined Robins & Morton/Cumming as the Construction Manager at Risk for the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital and Women's Pavilion project.
• McMillian, Pazdan, & SmithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone partnered with McMillian, Pazdan, & Smith for the South Carolina State University Truth Hall renovation project.
• Boomerang DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone partnered with Boomerang Design for the Fairfield Career and Technology Center project.
• MEG (Managing Energy Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone, in partnership with MEG, is responsible for improving the learning environment district-wide for Guilford County Schools. The partnership manages $1.3B in capital projects.
• BoudreauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone is part of the design team collaborating with Boudreaux for the Central Utility Plant (CUP) for the USC Health Sciences campus.
• Slam ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone is part of the design team collaborating with Slam Architects for the Central Utility Plant (CUP) for the USC Health Sciences campus.
• GilbaneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrownstone is part of the design team collaborating with Gilbane Developer for the Central Utility Plant (CUP) for the USC Health Sciences campus.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting and program management firm with a large construction services division. Comparable to Brownstone as a broader program management provider for large public-sector capital programs, with significantly wider geographic and service reach.
• Turner Construction Company: Largest domestic construction manager in the U.S., providing general contracting, CM-at-risk, and program management across all major verticals. Brownstone has teamed with Turner on the International African American Museum, and Turner competes for the same large institutional and cultural projects Brownstone targets in the Southeast.

Direct peers

• Hill International: Global construction management and program management consulting firm specializing in owners' representation and large-scale public capital programs. Directly comparable to Brownstone's program management services for major public-sector capital plans like the Guilford County program.
• Holder Construction: Privately held construction management and design-build firm with a strong corporate, healthcare, and higher education footprint across the Southeast (Atlanta headquarters). Comparable to Brownstone in mission-critical institutional CM and design-build execution in the same regional geography.
• Gilbane Building Company: National privately held construction management firm with strong education and healthcare verticals. Brownstone partnered with Gilbane on the USC Health Sciences Central Utility Plant, and the firm competes for similar institutional CM work across the Southeast.
• LS3P: Southeast-headquartered architecture and design firm with offices across the Carolinas and Georgia, focused on K-12, higher education, and civic markets. Directly comparable to Brownstone's architectural design practice and competing on many of the same K-12 and higher education commissions.
• MB Kahn Construction: Southeast-focused general construction and construction management firm based in Columbia, SC. Brownstone partnered with MB Kahn on the Richland Penny Program, and the two firms compete directly for the same K-12, higher education, and municipal work in the Carolinas.
• McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture: Mid-sized architecture firm headquartered in the Carolinas with deep K-12 and higher education portfolio. Brownstone partnered with McMillan Pazdan Smith on the SC State University Truth Hall renovation, and the two firms compete directly for similar educational and institutional design work.
• Brasfield & Gorrie: One of the largest privately held construction firms in the Southeast, headquartered in Birmingham, AL with offices across the region. Directly competes with Brownstone for healthcare, higher education, and municipal CM work across the same Southeast geography.
• Robins & Morton: General construction and construction management firm headquartered in Birmingham, AL with a strong healthcare and commercial practice across the Southeast. Brownstone and Robins & Morton have partnered on the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, making them directly comparable in healthcare CM execution and Southeast market focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Brownstone