Skanska, Barnhill to Build $126 Million Raleigh Convention Center

A joint venture between Skanska USA Building and Barnhill Contracting Co. of Tarboro, N.C., has been awarded the construction management assignment for the $126 million North Carolina Convention Center in Raleigh. The owner is the City of Raleigh.

The project involves a three-story conference and exhibition center. Construction was set to begin in July, with completion scheduled for summer 2007.

The North Carolina Convention Center represents step two of a five-step plan to renovate and revitalize the Raleigh city center.

Carolinas Construction Activity Increases at Rapid Pace

McGraw-Hill Construction recently reported that the value of April contracts for future construction activity in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina continued to improve significantly over the same period of a year ago, with the two states combining for a cumulative 33 percent increase.

In North Carolina, all sectors showed strong gains, as April activity was 38 percent ahead of the same year-ago period, increasing from roughly $1.4 billion to more than $1.9 billion. Nonresidential construction activity improved by 54 percent over last April, ending at an estimated $452.3 million. Residential construction showed continued strength, increasing by 26 percent to almost $1.3 billion for the most recent month. Nonbuilding construction more than doubled again, improving from last April's $72.3 million to the most recent figure of $183.7 million.

Year-to-date, North Carolina contract activity has increased by 31 percent over 2003. Nonresidential is 26 percent ahead of 2003, with $1.7 billion reported to date. Residential construction has increased by 27 percent to total roughly $4.4 billion, and the nonbuilding sector is estimated to be 73 percent ahead of 2003, with nearly $908.3 million reported.

South Carolina activity also showed considerable strength. April contract activity increased by 24 percent over the April 2003 figure of $782 million to end up at approximately $970.7 million. The nonbuilding sector again showed the greatest growth, nearly doubling from the $99.1 million reported last April to the most recent figure of $197.5 million. Residential activity increased by 17 percent to $548.9 million, while nonresidential improved by 5 percent from April 2003 to end up at roughly $224.4 million.

For the year-to-date in South Carolina, the value of new contracts is estimated at approximately 44 percent ahead of 2003. Nonbuilding construction is up by about $900 million over last year's pace, moving from the $310 million reported through the first four months of 2003 to nearly $1.2 billion so far. Both nonresidential and residential contracts have improved by 15 percent for the year, with nonresidential totaling $905.8 million and residential estimated at nearly 2.1 billion.

U.S. Navy Awards Contract for Mult-family Housing Project

A design-build contract has been awarded to Caddell Construction Co. of Montgomery, Ala., by the U.S. Navy for military family housing at two sites on the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C. The scope of work for this $39.6 million project includes demolition of 320 existing housing units and a mobile home park and construction of townhouse-style homes to include duplex, triplex and quadruplex configurations.

Construction began in March and has a 39-month completion schedule. Source: Engineering News-Record.

Contractor Starts on Oak Landing @ Porter's Neck

Construction is under way by John S. Clark Co. of Wilmington, N.C., for Oak Landing @ Porter's Neck, including a new 49,930-sq.-ft. Harris Teeter store and 24,100 sq. ft. of retail shops located in Wilmington. Source: Engineering News-Record.

$28 Million Parking Deck Under Way at Charleston Airport

Gulf Stream Construction Co. of North Charleston, S.C., is the general contractor for a new 1,200-space, $28 million parking deck for the Charleston International Airport. The project calls for a new three-level, 570,000-sq.-ft. cast-in-place, post-tensioned structure and three pedestrian bridges. Completion is expected fall 2005. Source: Engineering News-Record.