Georgia Branch AGC Presents Annual Build Georgia Awards

The Georgia Branch of Associated General Contractors recently presented its annual "Build Georgia" awards. All projects were built by AGC members and were located in Georgia. Firms presented with "Build Georgia" awards, along with their winning projects, included:

• Batson-Cook Co. - Little White House Museum, Warm Springs
• C. D. Moody Construction Co. - The Home Depot, Store #8413, Jasper
• Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC - First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Woodstock
• Pizzagalli Construction Co. & Integral Municipal Services, A Joint Venture - Utoy Creek Water Reclamation Center Phase 2A Administration and Laboratory Building, Atlanta
• The Christman Co. & C. E. Garbutt Construction Co., A Joint Venture - Old Governor's Mansion Restoration, Milledgeville
• Cork-Howard Construction Co. - Open Heart Surgery Center, Marietta
• Rogers Construction Co. - Glenn C. Jones Middle School, Buford
• Emery & Associates - Georgia Municipal Association Renovation, Atlanta
• Chris R. Sheridan & Co. - St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Macon
• Holder Construction Co. - Interface Showroom, Atlanta
• Turner Construction Co. - Emory Pediatrics Building, Atlanta
• Van Winkle & Co. - Riverside Military Academy Performing Arts Center, Gainesville; and Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
• Lusk & Associates - Christ Redeemer Catholic Church, Dawsonville
• New South Construction Co. - AirTran Airways Maintenance Hangar, Atlanta; Douglas County Jail Annex, Douglasville; and Cathedral of St. Philip, Phase I and II, Atlanta
• Warren Associates - The Lanier Building, Macon

Honorable mention awards were presented to the following firms and projects:

• Batson-Cook Co. - Athens Gameday Condominiums, Athens; and Columbus Public Library, Columbus
• Beck - Georgia Military College's New Academic Building, Milledgeville
• Brasfield & Gorrie - LeCordon Bleu, Atlanta College of Culinary, Tucker
• Daniel Construction of LaGrange - A Visitor Center for Hills and Dales, LaGrange
• Holder Construction Co. - Flint RiverQuarium, Albany; and Zoo Atlanta African Aviary, Lemur Exhibit, Atlanta
• C. D. Moody Construction Co. & Manhattan Construction Co./The Flagler Division, A Joint Venture - Carl and Mary Ware Academic Center, Atlanta
• Rogers Construction Company - Walton EMC Building Conversion and Renovations, Monroe
• Warren Associates - The Rumford Center, Macon

Also, a top "Specialty Contractor Build Georgia Award" was presented to:

• Tebarco Mechanical Corp. - The Balzer Theater at Herren's, Atlanta

Georgia Contract Activity Continues Increase in April

The value of contracts for future construction in the state of Georgia improved by 3 percent during April, McGraw-Hill Construction reported.

Overall, contracts for the month totaled approximately $2.1 billion, compared to last April's roughly $2 billion figure. Nonresidential contracts showed the greatest percentage improvement, increasing by 24 percent from a year ago, to total approximately $603.5 million. The value of residential contracts declined by 5 percent, to total approximately $1.3 billion. The value of nonbuilding contracts improved by 9 percent, to total approximately $221.3 million for the month.

So far in 2005, Georgia contract activity is 2 percent ahead of the pace of the first four months of 2004, with about $7.8 billion in contracts reported. Residential, with approximately $4.9 billion in new contracts, is down by 2 percent compared to 2004. Despite its significant uptick in April, nonresidential is down by 6 percent for the year-to-date, and totals approximately $1.7 billion. The nonbuilding category is 39 percent ahead of last year's pace, with roughly $1.2 billion in new contracts reported.

Batson-Cook Awarded Projects in Savannah, Columbus

Batson-Cook Construction's offices in West Point, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla., were recently awarded projects in Columbus and Savannah, Ga.

Columbus State University in Columbus has signed Batson-Cook as the general contractor for a $22.9 million project that will house facilities for the school's performing arts, studio arts and fine arts programs. The contractor will marry a former Pillowtex mill and new construction to create 110,000 sq. ft. of new and renovated space.

The architects include Stevens & Wilkinson Stang & Newdow of Atlanta and Hammel Green Abrahamson of Minneapolis.

Also, the Savannah Economic Development Authority selected Batson-Cook to build a $6.5 million, 40,000-sq.-ft. office building that will operate as the headquarters for the authority. The new facility is intended to serve as a model for further commercial development of Savannah Harbor, also known as Hutchinson Island, a largely undeveloped industrial area across the Savannah River from the historic district.

Batson-Cook teamed up with Savannah-based Hansen Architects on the project. The building includes a red brick façade, architectural stone accents and large arched windows overlooking the Savannah River. The building is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Construction Underway on Augusta State University

Construction is underway at Augusta State University's main campus on a student activities center. The two-story, 48,000-sq.-ft. facility was designed by the Atlanta architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent. Augusta-based 2KM Architects is the architect of record.

Completion of the $11.1 million project is scheduled for March 2006. R.W. Allen & Associates of Augusta is the construction manager.

The new facility will replace an existing student center on the fringe of the campus. That building, known as Washington Hall, will be renovated for general classroom space. The building's first floor includes a cyber café, kitchen, dining area, food court, formal banquet hall, student activities offices and study areas. The second floor includes a fitness center, a game room, TV lounges, club meeting rooms, student government offices, campus newspaper and magazine offices, and additional study areas.

Construction CareerExpo Draws more than 1,500

More than 1,500 students, volunteers, educators and parents attended Georgia's first-ever Construction CareerExpo, held April 28-29 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. According to event organizers, a number of students signed up for summer jobs, internships and apprenticeships.

"I'm going to be working at Sea Island as a mason this summer. I just signed on," said one construction student from Camden County High School.

"This is a real eye-opener for these students," said Chesta Drake, counselor at Gwinnett Central High School. "The enthusiasm of all the industry volunteers and exhibitors has to be making a big impression on these young people."