Major, Minor Projects Move Ahead; Nonbuilding Sector Surges

According to the latest information from McGraw-Hill Construction, the overall value of new Florida contracts signed in April for future construction fell by 27%, compared to a year ago.

Suffolk Tapped for $150-Million Atlantic Village Hotel & Marina

The Atlantic Village Hotel & Marina complex is set to begin construction in Broward County. With building permits issued for the initial phase of the $150-million project, foundation work is set to begin, according to representatives of Atlantic Village LLC.

Encompassing nearly 1 million sq ft, the Atlantic Village complex is planned to include a 12-story, 130,000-sq-ft Class-A office tower and incorporate an existing 80-boat-slip marina. A 12-story hotel is designed for 419 suites.

Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership of Miami is the architect. Suffolk Construction of West Palm Beach is the contractor.

April Contracts: Some Good News Amidst 27% Overall Decline

Though McGraw-Hill Construction’s latest report on Florida construction starts was mostly glum again, one number in particular offered a ray of hope for some Florida contractors. The bad news is that the overall value of contracts for future construction fell 27% in April, and residential and nonresidential markets declined significantly.

However, the company—publisher of Southeast Construction—reported that the value of nonbuilding contracts (which includes infrastructure) jumped 86% for the month, compared to last April. That equated to $812.4 million in new contracts, enough to make nonbuilding the most robust construction market for the month.

The nonbuilding sector should continue to surge, as stimulus funding begins to kick in. The vast majority of Florida’s $1.3 billion in stimulus funding had yet to be awarded during the timeframe for this latest report.

The nonresidential market had $773.6 million in new contracts. That was 46% below last April’s pace. Residential’s $561.3-million total for April was 47% behind that of a year ago, when it experienced $1.1 billion in new contracts. Overall, Florida contracts totaled about $2.1 billion.

With its strong April, nonbuilding surged to the top spot for the state’s year-to-date figures as well. So far, nonbuilding is 20% ahead of 2008’s pace, with an estimated $3 billion in new contracts. Nonresidential is second, with a $2.9-billion total, 42% behind ‘08’s pace. Residential’s $2.2-billion total is 53% behind last year.

For the year-to-date, overall Florida contract activity is estimated at $8.1 billion, or 34% behind ‘08.

Parsons Brinckerhoff Wins $44-Million Max Brewer Bridge Contract

Parsons Brinckerhoff was awarded a contract by the Florida Dept. of Transportation for the construction of a replacement bridge over the Indian River in Brevard County. The A. Max Brewer Bridge on state Route 406 is a low-level, swing-span bridge. It will be replaced with a 2,715-ft-long, two-lane, high-level, fixed-span bridge that also will traverse several parks and a boat launch. Fishing piers will be constructed at both ends of the bridge. The project cost is estimated at $44 million, and completion is expected in April 2011. Source: Engineering News-Record

Pirtle Starts Coral Springs Public Safety Building, Fire Station

Pirtle Construction Co. of Davie has broken ground on the City of Coral Springs Public Safety Building and Fire Station #80 project. The project is scheduled to be complete in June 2010.

The project includes: two-story addition and hurricane hardening of the existing public safety building that currently houses central police administration; construction of a fire station; and site redevelopment.

Moss & Associates Tops Out Leon Medical Center Project

Construction manager Moss & Associates of Fort Lauderdale topped out its four-story, 84,000-sq-ft Leon Medical Centers-Flagler. Moss reports it is on track to complete the $20-million project in November.

The project was designed by MGE Architects of Coral Gables.

CORE Construction Starts Construction of Marco Museum

CORE Construction Florida, Sarasota, Fla., was awarded a $2.8-million contract to build a new museum for the Marco Island Historical Society, with a special vault to preserve the treasured Key Marco Cat. The Key Marco Cat is a wood carving that was unearthed more than a century ago in a cache of artifacts on Marco Island remaining from a Calusa Indian village inhabited from 500 A.D. to 900 A.D.

The project includes an 11,000-sq-ft building for the museum and administrative offices and a 6,242-sq-ft Living History Hall.

Click here for more Florida News >>