JOHN BRASWELL
Head of HC Development LLC
John W. Braswell joined HC Government Realty Trust, Inc. (HCGRT) in January 2022 as Chief Operating Officer and transitioned to lead all development activities for HC Development LLC (HCD) in January 2025. John brings 30 years of experience in entitlement, development, ownership, management, and design-build aspects of Class A Government space and High-Security Facilities to HCD.
John is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the project team. Additional responsibilities include relationship management with GSA Contracting Officers, tenant agencies, GSA vendors, and GSA project managers. His attention to detail and expert understanding of agency workflows and needs allow him to start each project quickly and efficiently, eliminating the need for any learning curves.
John has been personally responsible for the project delivery and asset management of 70 projects in 16 Southern States, encompassing over 1.25 million square feet of space with a total value of over $400,000,000. Over 60 of those projects were for GSA, where he was personally responsible for the entire project delivery.
Due to his background in design and construction, John is heavily involved in the schematic design phases of each project. By working closely with the team Architect, he makes decisions on constructability immediately, which saves valuable time in the Design Intent Drawing and construction document processes. John is involved in weekly meetings on each project to ensure that the Lease requirements, the Program of Requirements, and Agency Special requirements are implemented correctly, utilizing the most efficient designs.
OVERSIGHT OF DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Since his first GSA development in 1999, John has created and fine-tuned institutionalized processes for each aspect and phase of a GSA project. From large-scale complicated projects to small Social Security Offices, John has developed and initiated processes that drive quality, budget, schedule, and tenant satisfaction. The tools for these processes include pro formas, relationship management, historical data comparison, vast personal experience and knowledge gained through lessons learned, background check tracking, checks and balance systems, monthly budget tracking, daily schedule compliance, continuous lease compliance, physical security coordination plans, quality control tools, project closeout processes, tenant move in plans, and tenant satisfaction surveys.
EXPERIENCE WITH ISC SECURITY STANDARDS
Through many years of involvement in GSA projects, John has developed multiple projects that incorporated the ISC Security Standards. While being involved in site layouts and vehicular flows, John has gained a clear understanding of what is required in the design-build process to comply with the ISC Security Standards. John has been personally involved when considering the following security features:
– Vehicluar speed and path to determine K ratings for perimeter fencing anti-ram designs
– Retaining wall installations, with soil backfill, for value-engineered K-rated designs
– Ameristar straight and curved top spire fencing in 6’ and 8’ heights.
– Ameristar anti-ram vehicular fencing utilizing steel cable construction to enhance K ratings
– Combination wall and fence designs at the defended perimeter of sites for compliance with anti-ram and anti-climb requirements
– Preconstruction security layouts for site control, GC trailer locations, FBI trailer locations, truck queuing and inspections, truck rejection exits, jobsite personnel entry points and tracking, etc.
– Standoff distances from the building to vehicular access points, perimeter fencing, primary VSF locations, emergency generator locations, dumpster enclosures, etc.
John understands that certain designs and layouts can affect other security features and that the overall security design must be a cohesive system in which all components and features work together to provide the proper solution for the tenant.
LEASE ADMINISTRATION
Over the past 26 years John has developed an expert understanding of the GSA Lease and all of the requirements it contains. He has a very clear understanding of the Shell Building requirements and what is required to meet the warm lit shell standards of the lease. John also understands the requirements for tracking and approvals during the DID process including the critical path for design to deliverables to stay on schedule. The importance of review stages during the production of construction documents is understood to be a particularly important window to receive input from all FBI and GSA stakeholders. His understanding of reporting, inspections and continued coordination throughout the construction phase was learned many years ago.
John has always been involved in the completion and closeout of projects and understands the importance of providing the proper closeout material to GSA, meeting deadlines for project completion, coordination with tenant early access to IT rooms, providing closeout packages to GSA and the tenant agency, etc. Because of his continued involvement in the project from start to finish, John ensures that the transition from construction to tenant move-in is as seamless as possible. This includes confirming that all punch list walks, and tenant inspections are prepared in advance, and that the facility is ready for occupancy on the agreed date.