Some people follow a carefully mapped-out path to success. Others take a leap of faith and build the road as they go. If you ever sit down with Eli Routh of Eclipse Construction Group (ECG), you’ll quickly realize he’s the latter. After being medically discharged from the Navy, Routh found himself traveling constantly for government contract work. But home was calling, and he was ready to put down roots in Tennessee.
“A quick Google search of ‘What’s the fastest-growing industry in Nashville?’ led me straight to construction. That was all I needed,” Routh says.
He picked up the phone, called an old friend in the business, and before he knew it, he was a site superintendent. After a 10-year career as a project manager and COO at a local builder, he was ready to take the next step and launch his own company.
Eclipse Construction Group was founded as a full-service boutique builder specializing in investor-funded spec projects, multi-family residential, and luxury custom homes.
Eclipse was built as a turnkey solution for investors who want to capitalize on new construction opportunities. Many investors want to tap into Middle Tennessee’s booming real estate scene but lack the expertise or time to oversee construction. While some builders focus solely on construction, his team takes an investment-first approach to development. They analyze market trends, identify high-growth areas, and build properties that meet demand. Whether it’s getting the perfect piece of land, sourcing dirt, planning and building a project from the ground up, or working with investors to maximize their portfolios, Eclipse handles it all.
“Currently, ECG is contracted on over $40 million in new residential construction projects from all over the Middle Tennessee area,” Routh says. Yet, for all the projects Eclipse takes on, some of the most memorable work is rooted in local history. When a dear friend and client called Routh out of the blue and said, “I bought a house, and I need your help restoring it,” he could hear the excitement in her voice. Eclipse wasted no time and dove headfirst into one of its most unique projects to date. This project involved restoring a historic home in Franklin. The original schoolhouse for the area was located on the property, a true piece of local history.
The challenge? Preserving the soul of the home while making it functional for modern living. Eclipse converted the schoolhouse into a stunning pool house, keeping its original, operable bell and chain from the 1800s intact. They carefully preserved the large pocket doors, intricate trim work, and even a stained-glass window, ensuring the home’s character stayed front and center. For the wine cellar, they repurposed old brick pavers from the patio as flooring, deconstructed, then rebuilt stone steps to create a dramatic entrance.
From the start of the project to the Certificate of Occupancy, it took just under seven months to complete. The project came together beautifully, thanks to collaborations with Chisel Workshop and Stonewall Cottage Design.
“We had an amazing team between us," says Routh. "Our designer Jenni McAdams with Stonewall Cottage Design brought our client's vision of preserving the historical characteristics of the home to life. The architects Amanda and Ben McCreary with Chisel Workshop were absolutely amazing on this project.”
“All of the interior doors were sourced from an old monastery in Alabama by our friends at Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in Cullman. They also custom-built many of the exterior doors to match one of the original exterior doors in the home. We kept as many of the existing windows as possible, but any new windows were from Pella’s Special Reserve Collection which kept with the historical look of the home. We also have one of the best trim carpenters in the business: Mike Paiz with MC Custom Trim Carpentry.”
At the end of the renovation, Routh attended a party at the completed home where he had the rare opportunity to see the owner showing off the work to friends and family. “It was one of the most rewarding moments in my career,” Routh says proudly.
Right now, Eclipse is leading multiple investment-driven projects across Middle Tennessee with what Routh calls a “white glove service” for capital groups and new investors alike. They’re behind The View at Rosedale, a 20-unit luxury short-term rental development near Geodis Park in Nashville.
They’re also building new construction homes in Wedgewood-Houston — one of Nashville’s most exciting neighborhoods — and are currently under construction on 16 home sites in The Preserve at June Lake, a large-scale mixed-use community in Spring Hill. On top of that, they’re working on a range of custom home projects for private investors and homeowners.
As Middle Tennessee continues to boom, Eclipse Construction Group maintains a vision to bridge the gap between the construction needs of the speculative investor and the discriminating taste of a custom home buyer. The process is simple: communicate and deliver.
“Every project is an opportunity to create valuable assets that strengthen communities around Middle Tennessee and provide long-term financial gains for investors," says Routh. "We’re in the business of building dreams and helping people make them actually come to life.”
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