Georgia Contract Activity Up 29 Percent in July

After improving by 30 percent in June, the value of contracts for future construction in the state of Georgia increased by 29 percent in July, compared to the same period of a year ago, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. The nonresidential and residential categories improved significantly, helping offset a 7 percent drop in the nonbuilding sector. Overall, contracts for the month totaled nearly $2.2 billion, or about $500 million ahead of last July's pace.

The nonresidential sector was the greatest percentage gainer, improving by 46 percent over last July to end up at roughly $622.5 million. Residential moved up by 30 percent to total approximately $1.3 billion for the month. Nonbuilding declined 7 percent from a year ago to total $223.2 million.

For the year-to-date, Georgia activity is 25 percent ahead of 2003's pace, with about $14 billion in contracts and all categories showing double-digit gains so far. Residential is 28 percent ahead of the first seven months of 2003, with approximately $8.8 billion reported so far. The second-largest market, nonresidential, is now 19 percent ahead of a year ago, with roughly $3.6 billion in contracts reported to date. Despite its recent downturn, the nonbuilding category is still 20 percent ahead year-to-date, with a $1.7 billion total.

Hardin Construction to Build Southern Company Center

Barry Real Estate Companies has selected Hardin to build Southern Company Center @ One Centennial in downtown Atlanta. The 259,000-sq.-ft., eight-story headquarters office building is above a 249,000-sq.-ft., seven-level parking deck with retail space on the ground floor. Exterior skin is curtain wall and precast with stone accents. The architect is MSTSD Inc. of Atlanta. Completion is scheduled for October 2005.

S/L/A/M Collaborative Designing $37M Renovation, Expansion at Emory

The S/L/A/M Collaborative of Atlanta has been selected to provide architectural-engineering design, interior design and landscape architecture services for the renovation and expansion of the Anatomy and Physiology buildings at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The $37 million-plus project includes renovation and adaptive re-use of two historic buildings, demolition of a connector building and the programming, design and construction of 100,000 sq. ft. of new space. Project completion is targeted for end of 2007.

Safety Alliance Formed to Reduce Trenching-Related Accidents

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association, the Georgia Hispanic Contractors Association and six metro-area fire departments - representing the city of Atlanta as well as Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties - announced the formation of an alliance to reduce injuries, illnesses and fatalities involving trenching operations.

This effort has been implemented in response to recent workplace fatalities resulting from excavation and trenching operations. From Oct. 1, 1999, to Sept. 30, 2003, OSHA investigated 18 fatal accidents in Georgia.

The S.A.F.E. (Safety Awareness Facilitates Education) Alliance has participants from a diverse range of organizations involving the federal government, local government and non-profit private associations.

"It demonstrates that the industry recognizes the problem that currently exists and that they have a desire to effectively address this serious safety concern," said Andre Richards, OSHA's area director in the Atlanta-West Office.

The signing ceremony creating the alliance took place in September.