Published on: January 22, 2026
Nashville has changed dramatically over the last several decades. Neighborhoods have evolved, the skyline has expanded, and expectations for quality and collaboration have only grown. For companies that have been here long enough to see that transformation firsthand, there’s a sense of pride that comes with helping shape the city—not just building in it.
Charter Construction and Crain Construction share that perspective. Charter has been part of Nashville’s growth for nearly 50 years, while Crain has been building in Middle Tennessee for more than 90. Over the years, the two firms have partnered on more than a dozen projects, including Aerston Midtown, Crestmoor in Green Hills, BNA Hilton, and the Marriott Tri-Brand Hotel. Each project reflects not only technical expertise but a shared approach rooted in relationships, trust, and accountability.
A Shared People-First Philosophy
At the center of the Charter–Crain partnership is a genuine people-first mindset—one that shows up whether things are running smoothly or challenges need to be worked through.
Mark Rankin, Executive Vice President at Crain, describes Charter’s approach simply, but meaningfully.
“Genuineness is not a word I use a lot, but it really fits them,” Rankin shared. “They treat you like a brother. They care about you as a person. That people-first philosophy is evident in every phase of the job, whether things are going well or when you hit challenges.”
That sentiment goes both ways. Charter sees the same values reflected in Crain’s culture.
“The culture at Crain is evident,” said Josh Crowell, Vice President at Charter. “I’ve worked with their pre-con team on multiple projects, some with difficult problems to overcome. Every interaction, you can tell how much they value relationships and really listen. They’re honest, trustworthy, and good people. It sounds simple, but it makes a difference.”
Problem-Solving That Starts Early
One of the defining strengths of the partnership is a shared belief that challenges should be addressed early—and with solutions in hand. Rankin notes that Charter has consistently been ahead of the curve in identifying constructability issues, including being one of the first contractors he worked with to bring 3D modeling into the process.
“They’ve always looked well in advance at constructibility and challenges,” Rankin said. “They’re not just highlighting problems. They’re bringing solutions.”
Rankin recalled how that proactive mindset was especially evident on Aertson Midtown, where construction noise was a major concern due to the surrounding neighborhood. To address it, the teams collaborated on an innovative approach that included 93 nighttime elevated slab pours while implementing custom noise-reduction measures. Insulated skirts were fabricated for trowel machines, mobile sound panels were installed around pump trucks, mufflers were modified, and alarms were adjusted within OSHA limits.
The result was progress without disruption—and a solution tailored to the realities of the site.
An Ownership Mentality on Every Project
That same sense of ownership extends beyond the field and into design coordination. On Aerston, Charter played a key role in bridging local construction knowledge with a structural engineering team based outside the region.
“The structural engineer was from the D.C. area,” Rankin recalled. “Charter really helped influence design decisions that made more sense for our conditions here in Nashville.”
Mark also emphasized that Charter’s expertise and professionalism quickly stood out and has been a trademark of the partnership over the past two decades. “I could take them into any meeting with anybody and feel confident in their professionalism and how they presented information.”
From Charter’s perspective, that level of trust is built through alignment.
“Working with Crain’s team is seamless because of how they pull us into preconstruction and design,” said Drew Hauser of Charter. “When challenges come up, they’re easy to work with, which makes them easier to solve.”
Hauser added that both teams share a broader view of success. “We both care about doing the right thing and helping owners achieve the best outcome—not just completing a project. Culture, commitment, and caring are intangible, but they matter. That alignment has helped us build meaningful projects together.”
As Nashville continues to evolve, partnerships like Charter and Crain’s demonstrate what’s possible when local knowledge, mutual respect, and shared values guide the work. It’s not just about what gets built—but how it gets built, and who you build it with.
