$2B+ Delivered | 3,000+ Units | 20+ Years | High-Rise & Podium Expert
Senior Construction Manager and Owner's Representative with proven delivery across high-rise residential ($170M-$305M), mixed-use podium (449-453 units), and industrial projects— bringing national expertise to Atlanta's 60-story tower boom, $350M mixed-use developments, and 14M SF data center pipeline.
Providing Owner's Representative and Construction Management services to institutional developers, REITs, and private equity firms executing high-rise, mixed-use, and industrial projects in Atlanta's booming market. Currently accepting select engagements for 2025-2026.
Direct response within 24 hours • Confidential project consultation • No obligation
By the Numbers
Two decades of proven delivery across America's most competitive construction markets
Total construction value delivered across 20+ major projects
Multifamily residential units completed and occupied
Senior-level project and construction management leadership
Large-scale developments demonstrating institutional capability
Experience spans high-rise residential (40+ stories), mixed-use podium developments (449-453 units), industrial facilities (500K+ SF), performing arts centers, and multi-site retail rollouts across San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, and now Atlanta.
High-Rise & Mixed-Use Podium
Delivered 40-story towers ($170M-$175M) and 5-6 story podium projects ($225M-$305M, 449-453 units)—directly aligned with Atlanta's 1072 West Peachtree (60-story, Rockefeller Group) and Avondale Estates ($350M, 900 units) scale
Industrial & Data Center Scale
500K SF industrial site development for Clarion Partners—matching Atlanta's 14M SF data center pipeline (QTS, Microsoft, Meta) and manufacturing build-to-suits (Kubota, Boston Scientific)
Institutional Client Experience
Owner's Representative for Clarion Partners on 500K SF project—comparable to Atlanta's active institutional investors (Rockefeller Group, EQT Exeter REIT, Ares Management) and corporate users (Georgia Power $94.8M acquisition)
Selected Projects
Representative portfolio demonstrating scale, complexity, and delivery excellence
855 Brannan
2019-2021Senior Construction Manager
$305M
5-story podium + 449 multifamily units + amenities + retail + multistory parking
San Francisco, CA
Potrero 1010
2018-2020Senior Construction Manager
$225M
6-story podium + 453 multifamily units + amenities + retail + integral parking
San Francisco, CA
Tateuchi Center
2016-2018Director / Senior Project Manager
$205M
325,000sf 2,000 seat multi-disciplinary Performing Arts Center (through redesign) — Project halted due to investor funding
Bellevue, WA
Premier on Pine
2015-2017Project Director
$175M
40-story high-rise + 386 multifamily units + amenities + retail + multistory parking
Seattle, WA
340 Fremont
2014-2016Senior Construction Manager
$170M
40-story high-rise + 348 multifamily units + amenities + underground parking
San Francisco, CA
Whataburger Multi-Site Rollout
2023-2024Senior Project Manager
15+ locations
Delivered 15+ Whataburger locations across Arizona—managing design, construction, and vendor coordination for consistent brand execution and accelerated rollout timelines
Arizona
Papago Commerce Center
2024Owner's Representative
500K SF
500,000 SF industrial site development for Clarion Partners—managed design, permitting, and pre-construction coordination through project transition in Phoenix's high-demand industrial corridor
Phoenix, AZ
One Henry
2015-2017Senior Construction Manager
$165M
5-story podium + 239 multifamily units + amenities + retail + underground parking
San Francisco, CA
Aspira
2011-2013Project Director
$115M
37-story high-rise + 325 multifamily units + amenities + retail + multistory parking
Seattle, WA
Domain
2014-2016Senior Construction Manager
$155M
5-story podium + 444 multifamily units + amenities + retail + multistory parking
San Jose, CA
Viktoria
2009-2011Project Director
$100M
24-story high-rise + 249 multifamily units + amenities + underground parking
Seattle, WA
Town Square Master Plan
2010-2012Project Director
$200M
Mixed-use master plan development including residential, retail, civic spaces, and public infrastructure coordination
Burien, WA
Trusted by Institutional Leaders
Proven track record managing large-scale portfolios for national REITs and institutional investors
Equity Residential
2013-2017 | Senior Construction Manager
Reporting directly to VP of Construction
6 Concurrent Projects
Managed multiple large-scale developments simultaneously across San Francisco Bay Area
$1.06 Billion Portfolio Value
Total construction value delivered during 4-year tenure
1,911 Multifamily Units
Delivered across high-rise and podium developments
Zero Safety Incidents
Maintained perfect safety record across entire 4-year portfolio
On-time and under-budget delivery maintained across entire portfolio, including 855 Brannan ($305M), Potrero 1010 ($225M), 340 Fremont ($170M),One Henry ($165M), Domain ($155M), and Parc on Powell ($40M).
Clarion Partners
2020-2025 | Owner's Representative
Through Cushman & Wakefield engagement
Papago Commerce Center
500,000 SF industrial site development in Phoenix's high-demand corridor
Full Project Lifecycle
Managed design, permitting, and pre-construction coordination
Seamless Transition
Delivered project through transition to new ownership
Additional Owner's Rep Experience:
- • Whataburger: 15+ locations across Arizona
- • Amazon: Existing building stabilization (soils issue)
- • Harley Davidson: New testing facility development
Client Testimonials
What clients say about working with Steve Nelson
"Steve's institutional experience and attention to detail were instrumental in delivering our $305M project on-time and under-budget in one of the nation's most challenging construction markets."
Construction Leadership Team
Portfolio Management
Equity Residential
Project: 855 Brannan
"His ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and navigate regulatory challenges made him an invaluable partner on our 500K SF industrial development."
Development Team
Project Oversight
Clarion Partners
Project: Papago Commerce Center
"Working with Steve on our multi-site retail rollout was seamless. His project management expertise and proactive communication kept all 15 locations on track."
Real Estate Development
Expansion Program
Whataburger
Project: Arizona Multi-Site Rollout
Leadership & Process
Core Capabilities
- • Program oversight from entitlement to C of O
- • GMP establishment, change-order control, value engineering
- • Multi-site rollout & cost control
- • Team building & stakeholder collaboration
- • Contract negotiation & agency interaction
- • Pre-construction through construction close-out
Project Experience
- • High-rise residential (40+ stories)
- • Podium mixed-use developments
- • Industrial & warehouse facilities
- • Multi-site retail rollouts
- • Performing arts & cultural centers
- • Existing building stabilization
AI-Forward Practices
Adopts data-driven workflows — BIM coordination, schedule analytics, and predictive cost modeling — to reduce surprises and accelerate delivery. Positioned to integrate modern construction technology platforms for enhanced project visibility and decision-making.
Bringing National Expertise to Atlanta's Boom
Atlanta's construction market is experiencing unprecedented growth—the 60-story 1072 West Peachtree tower (Rockefeller Group), $350M+ mixed-use developments, and 14M SF data center pipeline represent exactly the scale and sophistication I've delivered throughout my 20+ year career in San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix.
My $2B+ portfolio includes 40-story high-rises (340 Fremont, Premier on Pine), $305M podium projects (855 Brannan—449 units, on-time delivery), and 500K SF industrial developments (Papago Commerce Center for Clarion Partners). This experience directly translates to Atlanta's current pipeline and institutional investor requirements.
As an Owner's Representative specialist, I partner with Atlanta's established general contractors rather than compete against them—bringing institutional best practices, sophisticated project controls, and proven stakeholder management to developers, REITs, and corporate clients navigating Atlanta's most ambitious construction cycle in decades.
Why Atlanta
After two decades delivering complex projects in America's most competitive construction markets—San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix—I've chosen Atlanta as the next chapter of my career.
Atlanta's unprecedented construction boom mirrors the markets where I've built my expertise. The 60-story 1072 West Peachtree tower, the $350M+ mixed-use developments, and the 14M SF data center pipeline represent exactly the scale and sophistication I've delivered throughout my career.
I'm committed to bringing national best practices and a proven $2B+ track record to Atlanta's development community, partnering with local firms and building long-term relationships in this dynamic market.
Relocated to Atlanta
December 2025 • Established local presence • Actively networking with Atlanta developers, contractors, and industry associations
High-Rise Expertise
Delivered 40-story towers in San Francisco and Seattle. Atlanta's 60-story 1072 West Peachtree represents the same vertical ambition.
Institutional Client Experience
4 years managing $1.06B for Equity Residential. Atlanta's institutional investors need this same level of sophisticated project management.
Large-Scale Portfolio Management
Managed 6 concurrent projects totaling $1B+. Atlanta's development pipeline demands this multi-project coordination capability.
Owner's Representative Specialization
Recent 5-year focus on Owner's Rep roles. Partnering with Atlanta's established GCs, not competing against them.
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Bringing institutional-grade project management to Atlanta's development community
Professional Affiliations
Pursuing membership in Atlanta's construction and real estate development community
AGC Georgia
Primary construction industry association
ULI Atlanta
Developer-focused real estate organization
NAIOP Georgia
Commercial real estate development association
Membership applications in progress