Charlotte Projects for Seamon Whiteside

I love working with Seamon Whiteside! They are a wonderful company that truly cares about connecting with their clients…a value that perfectly aligns with our business goals.

When Landscape Architect Kenny Seamon & Civil Engineer Stuart Whiteside created a business partnership in 1985, the result was SW+, the only company in Charleston offering both services under one roof. This unique mix worked! With the goal of being the best design firm in the region, the SW+ leadership team continues to attract the brightest talent, each with a unique expertise in one of the many facets of land design.

“At SW+ we view ourselves as a partner in site design; working by our Clients’ side, with their goals in mind. This means we strive to fully understand their vision, approach their project with passion, continuously collaborate, produce quality plans, and engage in the construction process to help see the vision through.”

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing a number of recently completed Seamon Whiteside projects in and around Charlotte. Here are a few favorites…

Carowinds Theme Park

Carowinds is a 400-acre amusement park located on the border of North and South Carolina. The park opened on March 31, 1973, at a cost of $70 million. This was the result of a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a 1956 trip to Disneyland.

The hero of Carowinds is Fury 325. This giant “giga coaster” is loosely themed around Charlotte’s nickname, The Hornet’s Nest. It has a height of 325 ft, making it the tallest giga coaster. It’s the fastest non-launched roller coaster in the world! With a top speed of 95 mph, it’s also the sixth fastest in the world overall. Fury 325 is the single largest investment in the park’s history.

Using the DJI Mavic Pro, I had the pleasure of creating this aerial drone image of the park before their crazy summer season begins!