Odom Engineering was recently given a shoutout on Tindell Corporation's website regarding our role as Engineer at Tryon International Equestrian Center. We are proud of the work we have done with TIEC, and are honored to be mentioned on Tindell's website!

Located within the master-planned residential community of The Club at Westport in Denver, NC, new construction has recently been completed on the latest phase of The Townhomes at Westport managed by Westport Lakeside Development LLC. A collection of 25 two and three bedroom townhomes located near the Westport Clubhouse, are available for purchase to fulfill the 55 and older active adult-lifestyle at its finest. The site plans for the newly-built homesites were developed and spearheaded by the team at Odom Engineering in Forest City, NC.

As the lead civil engineer on The Townhomes community project, Odom Engineering designed the systems for the water supply, sewer lines, erosion control and stormwater layouts throughout the neighborhoods. The Townhomes at Westport is one luxury product nestled within a variety of maintenance-free urban settings within the boundaries of The Westport Club Development. On-going design by Odom Engineering is proceeding with phase IV of The Springs at Westport patio home community.

The Club at Westport is a first-class recreational development community located near the banks of Lake Norman and offers great access and convenience to Charlotte, NC. Loaded with amenities, the multiple neighborhoods are surrounded by an 18-hole golf course and walking trails that meander through the natural lands of the community. Residents have access to premier amenities including a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse, fitness center, tennis courts, and an Olympic-size swimming pool with activities for the whole family. The possibilities for all lifestyles are endless at the Westport Club.

Fifteen years ago, KidSenses Interactive Children’s Museum opened its doors on Main Street in Rutherfordton, NC, and has since enriched thousands of lives and dramatically revitalized the downtown district. Over a half million visitors later, the museum continues to be the primary attraction in Rutherfordton, leading to the idea of a major expansion, and Odom Engineering is proud to be a contracted member of the development team.
 
In November 2017, KidSenses, Inc. purchased an 8,400 square-foot historical building, dating back nearly a hundred years ago, to house The Factory, a facility designed to engage youth ages 11 into their teens for next level STEM-related learning. The Factory building is located adjacent to KidSenses’ popular Discovery Garden. Themed around the international “Maker Movement,” the concept gives participants a place to meet, nurture curiosity and foster an entrepreneurial mindset. The building’s existing structure was evaluated by the team at Odom Engineering for civil and structural development of converting the old hardware store, which previously occupied the building, to The Factory future home. 

The key design plans Odom developed for the new facility centered on the foundation and framing of the building, plus a new sidewalk, street curb and drainage system. The design logistics included reinforcement of the existing structure, openings for masonry load-bearing walls and framing, and foundation blueprints for a future addition to the building, making it a state-of-the-art learning center. Slated to open in mid-2021, KidSenses will expand from its current 10,000-square-foot museum to a 27,000-square-foot campus. The expansion will allow the museum to double its yearly visitors to over 60,000, and position both KidSenses and The Factory as a dynamic destination experience for Rutherford County and Western North Carolina.

The Factory’s new 5,000-square-foot addition, will allow KidSenses the opportunity to focus on an older age group and offer a technological-driven work environment. Completing its first phase of construction in June 2019, The Factory will encompass four main areas designed in partnership with Haizlip Studio Architectural Firm:

1. A “Tech Lab”, which will be equipped with computers, 3-D printers, laser cutters and other cutting-edge technology.
2. The “Make It Place” workshop complete with hands-on conventional tools, both power and manual.
3. A “Food Studio” including a fully functioning kitchen for culinary innovation.
4. An “Idea Zone” for collaboration and team building

 
Executive Director Willard Whitson says, “The Factory project requires partners who are respectful of the past, while embracing the technologies of skills for the future. Odom Engineering has proven to be the ideal partner.” Whitson continues, “Their experience and understanding of the issues associated with re-engineering a century-old structure, coupled with their sensitivity and knowledge of future use, is making this a dream project – one which will set a standard for our community.”
 
Providing an extraordinary resource for the community and the region, the three-year, $1.4-million capital campaign garnered contributions from city and state governments, RHI Legacy Foundation, Stonecutter Foundation, as well the donor community through KidSenses’ annual fundraising gala. Facebook gave a significant donation for The Factory’s digital infrastructure.

Learn more about The Factory Project

Relive the railroading past and experience the newest rail-trail developed in Rutherford County, NC. Winding through historic sites and stopping points of interest, this scenic thoroughfare is lined with trees and stunning views of the Blue Ridge Foothills. Named after the area’s Isothermal weather phenomenon, the Thermal Belt Rail Trail serves as the county’s connective link, beginning in the community of Gilkey and weaving through four quintessential downtowns of Ruth, Rutherfordton, Spindale and Forest City, uniting communities and tourism destinations for experiences of all levels of enjoyment. When complete, the trail will cross four Main Streets, a section of the Overmountain Victory Trail, and the Bechtler Mint Site Historic Park.
 
Serving as the backbone of the county, the 13.58 mile, 12-foot wide civil site development was designed by Odom Engineering to include the trail, crossings, and parking. Odom secured the encroachment agreements with NCDOT, and an overpass agreement with CSX, and also developed erosion control plans for the entire corridor. In addition, Odom provided project management services, coordinated with local municipalities on all aspects of the trail design, and spearheaded the construction administration bidding. Through this process, Odom worked alongside Trail Partners and McGill Associates of Asheville, NC, who prepared the master plan and produced the facility and programming goals, creating a linear park for the County’s growing population. Providing funding, RHI Legacy Foundation, a grant-making organization that has a broad mission to make Rutherford County healthier, gave $4.5 million to the project. Local creative design and manufacturing specialists, Artifacturing, worked with NCDOT to create the crosswalk artwork visitors and residents see along the trail.

From Gilkey to the US Highway 74 bridge in Forest City, 12 miles of the trail is paved with the remaining section to be completed at the end of summer 2019. The greenway promotes an active lifestyle, health and wellness, and supports economic prosperity, offering a pathway for visitors and residents to enjoy the outdoors for walking, biking, strolling with young children and beloved pets, playgrounds, and ease of access to trailheads.

Parking and Trail Access
In Forest City, major access points will be at Forrest Hunt Elementary and the new Pavilion On Park Square.

In Spindale, take Oakland Road to East Main Street. The trailhead is at the intersection of East Main and Kentucky Street. Park along the road.

In Rutherfordton, parking is available at Bechtler Mint Site Historic Park (342 Gilboa Church Road) and at Fashion Circle, just north of Rock Road.

In Ruth on Railroad Avenue gravel parking is available along the trail.

For additional information visit www.facebook.com/ThermalBelt

Two warehouses and the Blanton Hotel located behind top attractions in Forest City, NC, were demolished in 2016 to make room for the new Pavilion on Park Square (POPS), which has become a major focal point for the city’s downtown area. Completed in 2019, the multi-million dollar project is unlike any other venue in the local region. Through the master site layout and erosion control design plans constructed by Odom Engineering, PLLC, POPS has been described as truly magnificent and adds a dynamic new dimension to the downtown corridor. Additional development of the park orchestrated by Odom’s team, in partnership with the Town of Forest City, includes NCDOT encroachment permitting, local government approvals, construction administration and site bidding.
 
Located walking distance from historic Main Street and adjacent to the brand new Thermal Belt Rail Trail, the park offers multiple cutting edge attractions for public enjoyment. The 2,000-seat amphitheater houses a large covered stage with chimney and colonnade extending across the top of the amphitheater for outdoor concerts and special events. A grand plaza complete with ticket booths, concessions, beer and wine, smaller pavilions and restrooms are open to serve the public. The spacious grounds of the park include two interactive, pop-jet style splash pads and a three tiered fountain, grassy areas for natural recreation, plus walking paths with numerous access points.
 
John Condrey, Forest City Town Manager, is excited to have POPS as a new downtown destination stating, “Our opening events have been very successful and the public has been very happy with the park’s beauty and the opportunities it creates. This will be a destination location in our community and we thank Odom Engineering for their work to make this project excel.”
 
Open seven days a week from 8am-11pm, the Pavilion on Park Square has a calendar full of fun from a summer concert series and movies in the park, yoga classes and monthly “Alive After 5” music events, just to name a few. Plus, the town plans to rotate in food trucks, special guests and host inaugural celebrations like the Cherry Bounce Festival happening June 14th and 15th. POPS is, without a doubt, a place where enjoyment is as much about atmosphere and sense of community as it is about entertainment.
 
Pavilion on Park Square
153 Park Square
Forest City, NC 28043
828.245.0365
Facebook@forestcitypavilionparksquare

The Town of Forest City and Odom Engineering officially broke ground on site for the future Park at Florence Mill on August 23rd. Before a crowd of nearly 100 attendees and news crews from local television stations and newspapers, Forest City Mayor Steve Holland welcomed guests and praised everyone involved in making the park project a reality, giving special recognition to the team at Odom Engineering.
 
With a completion date set for spring 2018, the park is expected to become a major focal point for downtown Forest City featuring an amphitheater for outdoor concerts and special events, and an interactive, pop-jet style splash pad.
 
The new park will be walking distance from downtown Forest City in the corridor between Huntley Alley, Depot Street and Mill Street. Named after the historic Florence Mill that stands at this location, two warehouses and the Blanton Hotel were demolished in 2016 to make room for the new park.
 
Forest City Mayor Steve Holland said, “The Town is very excited to see the park construction begin. The Town Council and I believe this project will add a dynamic new dimension to downtown Forest City.  If you have not experienced downtown Forest City recently, I recommend that you come and visit.”
 
Odom Engineering, PLLC is working with Smith Construction Corporation and the Town of Forest City to construct the park. 

​Odom Engineering is celebrating 20 years in business this year. Founded in 1997, Odom Engineering, PLLC provides services such as engineering design, project management and capital improvement planning for municipalities, as well as all types of civil engineering projects, including street design, water and sewer system design, site development, capital planning, project funding and more.
 
Odom Engineering is a family-owned company that began in Shelby, N.C. While President and Founder David Odom was becoming licensed, he worked with his father, Nathan Odom, at Professional Surveying Services to become established. His father was a land surveyor with a strong math background who always encouraged David to become an engineer. The company grew organically, designing 12 sites in Shelby, including an apartment complex in the area.
 
One of the company’s most recent projects is the Rails to Trails initiative in Rutherford County, N.C. Odom Engineering is working jointly with the towns of Rutherfordton, Ruth, Spindale, Forest City and Rutherford County to extend the trail length from 7.87 miles to 13.36 miles. In 2014, Odom Engineering was selected to be the lead civil engineer for Tryon Resort and Tryon International Equestrian Center, a 1600-acre equestrian resort destination in Mill Spring, N.C. Future expansion of the facility includes four new hotels, including a five-star property, in preparation for the FEI World Equestrian Games that Tryon Resort will host in September 2018.
 
Odom explains that the greatest reward in his company turning two decades old is the relationships it has fostered. “I am equally rewarded in that it has provided for my family, allowed me to meet and work with wonderful people and towns that are building neat things, and it has allowed me to develop and work with a great team who have become friends,” Odom explains.
 
For small business owners, Odom offers inspiring advice: “Encourage your staff to develop, and take advantage of quality new hires. It pays to get talent and good fits for your company culture.” He also encourages business owners to recognize the greatest economic truth: “The wheel always turns. When it is bad, it will get better. When it is good, prepare for slower times.”
 
When looking towards the future, Odom’s future vision for the company is longevity. “I want to see it continue long after I move on. I have younger hires that have a tremendous future in assisting the local governments and development community.”
 
About Odom Engineering, PLLC
Over the years, Odom Engineering, PLLC has been instrumental in receiving more than $15 million in grant awards for rural communities throughout Cleveland, Rutherford and Polk Counties in North Carolina. Their involvement in these projects ranged from the initial submission of the grant application through the design and project close-out.
 
For more information about Odom Engineering PLLC, visit their website www.odomengineering.com, email [email protected], or call 828-247-4495. 

Odom Engineering is facilitating the development of four new hotels at the 1,600-acre, state-of-the-art Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, NC. The additional hotels are being constructed in preparation for the FEI World Equestrian Games (FEI WEG) that TIEC will host on September 11-23, 2018. All four hotels will be TIEC branded properties and are scheduled to be completed by the September 2018 Games.
 
Alternating every four years with the Olympic Games, the entire region from Charlotte to Asheville in North Carolina and the Greenville/Spartanburg Upstate in South Carolina are expected to benefit tremendously from the global equestrian event. The 2014 FEI WEG was held in Normandy, France where more than 550,000 spectators attended the two-week competition. More than $400 million in economic impact was realized from the event. To learn more about this event, visit www.tryon2018.com.

Odom Engineering is partnering with McGill & Associates on the Rails to Trails Program in Rutherford County, NC. The former railroad line turned hiking and biking trail currently begins in Gilkey, passes through the towns of Ruth and Rutherfordton, and stops in downtown Spindale.

Odom Engineering is working jointly with the towns of Rutherfordton, Ruth, Spindale, Forest City and Rutherford County plan the trail extension from its current stopping point at Spindale Street to Forrest Hunt Elementary School in downtown Forest City. The extension will bring the trail length from 7.87 miles to 13.36 miles.
 
Click here to view a proposed map of the extension.

The Town of Forest City selected Odom Engineering with partners Knight Strategies and Architecture Unlimited, to develop a master plan for the Florence Mill Park in Forest City, NC. The $2.2 million park project was approved by Forest City Town Council on January 11, 2017.
 
The park will bring several highly-anticipated features to downtown Forest City including an amphitheater for outdoor concerts and special events, and numerous water features including two interactive, pop-jet style fountains. 
 
A name has not been chosen for the park, but is currently being referred to as the Florence Mill Park due to its location where the historic Florence Mills previously stood. The two mills, along with the Blanton Hotel building, were demolished in 2016 making room for the park. 
 
Construction is planned to start later this spring and the park is projected to open to the public in late 2017.