FedEx Ground, the small-package ground delivery unit of FedEx Corp., has chosen a 75-acre site in Kennesaw, Ga., as the location for a new 247,000 sq.-ft. automated distribution facility to be opened by summer 2006.

The new facility will replace the current FedEx Ground terminal in Marietta, Ga., and will be triple the size. The facility will open as an automated terminal capable of processing 15,000 packages per hour and is expected to be converted to a 322,000-sq.-ft. hub in fiscal 2010.

Yates Construction of Atlanta is the general contractor for the new facility, which is being designed by architectural engineers Pickering Firm of Memphis.

Kubota Adds Another Manufacturing Facility

Equipment manufacturer Kubota Corp. announced it will add a manufacturing facility in Jackson County, Ga. This will be the company's fifth facility in the state.

Initially, the plant will manufacture tractor implements such as loaders and backhoes.

Construction is slated for completion in September. The 400,000-sq.-ft. facility will produce approximately 70,000 tractor implements annually when fully operational.

Georgia Contract Activity Down 5 Percent in October

Due to a 48 percent decline in the value of the nonbuilding construction category, the value of contracts for future construction in the state of Georgia decreased by 5 percent in October, compared to the same period of a year ago, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. Overall, contracts for the month totaled approximately $2.1 billion, compared to last year's $2.2 billion pace.

Nonbuilding's total for October was roughly $377 million, compared to the $731.5 million of the same period a year ago. The biggest sector, residential, improved by 18 percent to total approximately $1.2 billion for the month. Nonresidential contracts also increased, by 10 percent from a year ago, to total nearly $520.8 million.

Year-to-date, Georgia activity is 17 percent ahead of 2003's pace, with about $19.9 billion in contracts reported. Residential is 24 percent ahead of the first ten months of 2003, with approximately $12.5 billion in new contracts. The second-largest market, nonresidential, is 8 percent ahead of a year ago, with roughly $4.9 billion reported to date. Also, the nonbuilding category is 3 percent ahead, with a $2.5 billion total.

Gilbane Building Co. Picked for UGA, Museum Projects

Gilbane Building Co. of Atlanta has been selected as the design-builder for the renovation and modernization of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine's Animal Health Research Center, a BSL-3 Ag facility - the second highest biosafety level.

UGA's AHRC is a 73,000-sq.-ft. facility located in Athens. The $35 million project includes reconstruction of labs, large animal suites and support spaces; correction of previous work; and upgrades to the existing building layout, security, systems and functions. CUH2A Smith Carter is providing design and engineering services. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2006.

Also, the National Infantry Foundation has selected Gilbane as the construction manager for the new National Infantry Museum and Heritage Park. The new facility, to be located on a 200-acre site connecting Fort Benning and the city of Columbus, Ga., will be a national place to remember, honor and preserve the legacy of the United States Infantryman. E. Verner Johnson and Associates of Boston is the project architect.

ABC of Georgia Presents "Excellence in Construction" Awards

Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia, located in Atlanta, recently presented its bi-annual statewide "Excellence in Construction" awards. Entries were evaluated on criteria such as complexity, attractiveness, unusual challenges, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety and budget.

Projects receiving the highest ratings for their category received an Award of Excellence. Companies and the projects receiving this award level included:

• AMEC Kamtech Inc. - Paper Machine Conversion;
  
• Brasfield & Gorrie - First Baptist Church of Woodstock; Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts; Complex Carbohydrate Research Center at UGA; and BellSouth Midtown;
  
• Comfort Systems USA/H&M Mechanical - Metropolis;
  
• Dudley Barrett Construction Co. - AGL Resources Corp. Headquarters;
  
• Fortune-Johnson Inc. - Westchester at Dunwoody
  
• Hardin Construction Co. - Centergy; and 171 17th Street at Atlantic Station;
  
• Juneau Construction Co. - Southern Polytechnic State University; University Courtyard Housing Complex; and Goode Van Slyke Architecture Office Building Renovation;
• Pinkerton & Laws - Temple Mickve Israel;
  
• The Saxon Group - Georgia Power, Plant Yates Cooling Tower;
  
• Winter Construction Co. - Bloomingdale's at Lenox Mall; and Immokalee WTP, WWTP and Infrastructure Improvements.
  

Other projects were presented with Awards of Merit. These winning companies and projects included:

• AMEC Kamtech Inc. - Fiberline Project;
  
• BE&K Construction Co. - MEAG-Wansley Combined Cycle Project;
  
• Brasfield & Gorrie - The Lovett School, Phase 1B; The Georgia State Archives; and Carrie Steele-Pitts Home-Life Learning Center;
  
• DPR Construction - Douglas Hill Business Park (APL Logistics);
  
• Fox Building Co. - Bass Pro Shop/World Wide Sportsman;
  
• Genoa Construction Services - RBC Centura-Flynn Crossing;
  
• Hardin Construction Co. - Technology Square; and Arthur M. Blank Family Office;
  
• Juneau Construction Co. - Georgia Institute of Technology; and J.S. Coon Building Renovation;
  
• PaverStone Construction - The Sandy Beaver Center for Teaching & Learning; and The Forum on Peachtree Parkway;
  
• Tebarco Mechanical Corp. - Woodward Academy Middle School, Brand Tucker Hall;
  
• Teton Industrial Construction - OUC Brine Concentrator/Demineralizer Project;
  
• Turner Construction Co. - Atlanta City Courts Facility;
  
• W.S. Nielsen Co. - CNN Center;
  
• Winter Construction Co. - The Temple

APAC-Southeast Starts 37-Mi. State Route 400 Project

APAC-Southeast recently started construction of a 37-mi. rehabilitation project on State Route 400 between Interstate 285 and State Route 306 in Forsyth County.

The project includes the construction of 12-ft. concrete shoulders on the north- and southbound sides of S.R. 400, as well as bridge joint repair and replacement, the replacement of overhead signs and the upgrading of guardrail systems.

APAC's contract is valued at approximately $28.8 million. Completion is scheduled for November.