Balfour Beatty Construction Acquires RT Dooley of Charlotte

In late February, Balfour Beatty Construction announced its intent to acquire Charlotte, N.C.-based RT Dooley Construction Co.

According to Balfour Beatty, privately owned RT Dooley had overall 2008 revenues of $306 million. The company specializes in corporate headquarters, corporate interiors and projects such as trading floors, data centers, call centers, telecommunications and broadcasting. RT Dooley is currently working in five states.

“This acquisition is consistent with Balfour Beatty’s long-standing strategy of continually expanding the range of products and services we can deliver,” said Ian Tyler, chief executive of Balfour Beatty plc, in a press statement.

The company will be known as RT Dooley – A Balfour Beatty Company. According to the announcement, RT Dooley will remain at its current location, operating under its current leadership team.

North, South Carolina Start 2009 with More Major Declines

Compared to the same period of a year ago, the value of new contracts signed in January for future construction fell by 48% overall in North Carolina, and by 51% in South Carolina, according to the latest information from McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction.

In North Carolina, the overall total for new project starts was roughly $818.5 million, down from the previous January total of nearly $1.6 billion.

Contract value in all three of McGraw-Hill Construction broad construction categories declined significantly. Residential suffered the greatest decline in January, dropping 57% compared to last January to total about $383.8 million for the month. That compares to last January’s $899.3 million total for this category. The nonbuilding sector – which includes infrastructure projects – fell by a similar 52% to total about $135.8 million. The nonresidential category dropped 25% compared to a year ago, registering about $298.9 million in new projects during the month.

In South Carolina, January contracts fell by an overall rate of 51%, compared to the same period of a year ago. The state’s total for January was $373.7 million, down from the year-ago tally of $755.2 million.

Here, too, residential fared worst. The housing sector fell 65% compared to the preceding January for a $148 million monthly total. That compares to the $424.5 million in residential contracts of a year ago. The nonbuilding sector – which includes infrastructure work – fell by 33% and totaled nearly $79.2 million. The nonresidential sector fell by a similar 31% to tally nearly $147.5 million for the month, down from last year’s $211.9 million.

PCL Awarded Biltmore Expansion Project

PCL Construction Services of Charlotte is set to build Antler Hill Village, a new guest attraction project at the Biltmore in Asheville, N.C. The project will exhibition space, village green with live entertainment, dining, shopping and an outdoor adventure center. As part of this project, Biltmore Winery will be enhanced to offer a newly designed tour and tasting areas.

PCL was scheduled to begin construction this past February, with an anticipated completion date in early 2010.

Hendrick to Build Entertainment Complex, Elementary School Expansion

Hendrick Construction of Charlotte was awarded a contract to build the Fillmore Music Hall at the North Carolina Music Factory’s entertainment complex in Fourth Ward. According to the contractor, the project is designed to look like The Fillmore, the historic music venue in San Francisco. The 20,000-sq-ft facility is scheduled to open in June and will have a capacity of up to 2,000 patrons.

The music hall will feature exposed aged-wood ceilings, wood floors and stage, sound and lighting systems. The roof will be raised to accommodate unique sound and lighting systems for various artists and performers.

The Fillmore Music Hall is being designed to attract national acts to Charlotte, according to Noah Lazes, president of the ARK Group, which is the owner and developer of the North Carolina Music Factory. The facility will be operated by Live Nation, a producer of live concerts.

Hendrick also announced it was awarded a contract to build a 12,500-sq-ft addition to Carl A. Furr Elementary School in Cabarrus County. The school, which opened in 2007, has already reached its maximum capacity of 800 students. The addition will increase the regular classroom space from 33 to 41 rooms, providing the school with enough space for its current enrollment and allowing for future growth.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2009-10 school year.

Carolinas AGC Honors Contractors, Projects with Annual Pinnacle Awards

The Carolinas Associated General Contractors announced the winners of its 2008 Pinnacle Awards for outstanding achievement in commercial construction.

The award for “Best General Contractor” went to Frank L. Blum Construction Co., Winston-Salem, N.C. Judges gave the firm top marks in subcontractor relations and contribution to industry and community, and noted its treatment of employees.

Clark Pavement Marking of Apex, N.C., was recognized as the “Best Subcontractor/Specialty Contractor” for the year. Judges cited input from general contractors and the firm’s longstanding emphasis on safety and employee development, as well as its commitment to the advancement of new technologies.

Recognized as the “Best Supplier/Service Company” was Dennis Corp. of Columbia, S.C. The firm is a three-year-old civil engineering, surveying and construction management firm.

CAGC also recognized outstanding projects. Two awards were presented for “Best Building Project.”

Linbeck Construction Corp. of Spartanburg, S.C., won for its Chapman Cultural Center project in Spartanburg. The 87,000-sq-ft project houses a dance center, art and pottery studios, science center, 500-seat auditorium, art and history museums, gift shop and offices.

Also, D.S. Simmons of Goldsboro, N.C., was recognized for its North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching project in Ocracoke. This $8 million project involved the complete renovation of a World War II–era Coast Guard Station located on the remote Ocracoke Island.

Carolina Bridge Co. of Orangeburg, S.C., won the “Best Highway-Heavy Project” for its N.C. 12 Bridge Replacements on Ocracoke Island This project involved replacing seven timber bridges with six new concrete bridges and a twin culvert. The contractor delivered the project in just six weeks.

Parsons Announces Start of Second Phase of RDU Terminal 2

Parsons, the program/construction manager for Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s $570 million Terminal 2 capital improvement program, announced construction has started on phase two.

This portion of the project, which began in November, will increase the terminal’s number of aircraft gates from 19 to 36. Also, a third ticketing island with 20 positions and two additional baggage claim carousels will be added.

Phase one of the Terminal 2 project opened in October. The second phase is scheduled for completion in early 2011.

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