CLEMSON — Construction of the new Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, at the intersection of Issaqueena Trail and U.S. Highway 123, should be completed by early December. However, it won’t open until the first quarter of next year.

“Typically, a Lowe’s will open anywhere from 30 to 60 days out,” said David Harner, vice-president of Paramount Development Corporation.

The new store will total 137,916 square feet that includes the store, office space and garden center on the 18-acre site. The store itself is projected to bring 120 new jobs, as well as local and outparcel development that will bring additional jobs to the Clemson area.

Although the project was initially met with opposition from nearby residents, efforts have been made to reduce the overall impact of the development. They include maintaining a substantial buffer between the development and U.S. 123, establishing architectural standards for all proposed improvements, restricting allowable uses on the outparcels, limiting the hours of operation, providing for restrictive “Dark Sky” lighting to reduce glare and improving infrastructure to better accommodate the flow of traffic.

On Thursday afternoon, an Atlanta-based helicopter crane company airlifted 22 individual air conditioning units onto the roof of the Lowe’s Clemson site. The process took approximately 45 minutes.

Carl Hall, superintendent for James R. Vannoy Construction’s Anderson office, said the remaining exterior work includes finishing and pouring the blacktop and landscaping. Interior-wise, Hall said the concrete flooring must be poured.

Once the building is completed in December, all of the necessary inspections will then be performed and approved and stocking of the interior shelves will begin soon thereafter.

Hall said he is pleased with how construction, which began around the middle of May, has progressed.

“It’s been a good job all the way around,” Hall said.

greg@dailyjm.com | (864) 973-6687