JD’s Smokehouse RESTAURANT – Gamewell

Caldwell County, NC

JD’s Smokehouse – Gamewell is the second location of one of the region’s most popular barbecue restaurants. The new 10,000 square foot building expands the brand’s presence with large indoor dining areas and generous covered outdoor seating, all designed to enhance the relaxed, family-friendly experience the restaurant is known for.

This project embraced a hybrid approach to speed and efficiency—precast insulated concrete wall panels formed the entire exterior enclosure and were erected in less than half a day. This quick installation was strategically coordinated with the delivery of prefabricated roof trusses, drastically reducing the project’s overall dry-in time. The exterior reflects a modernized take on vernacular Appalachian architecture, with log-profile wall panels and a red standing seam metal roof, while the interior features exposed ceilings, rustic finishes, and custom-built seating using locally crafted wooden booths.

The building was completed in summer 2021, representing a collaborative effort between owner, builder, and architect to deliver high performance and regional charm on a compressed construction schedule.

Interesting Fact:
The use of precast insulated panels allowed the exterior shell to go up in a matter of hours, saving weeks of site work and enabling interior fit-out to begin almost immediately.