Georgia Contracts Decline 10% in February

Georgia construction contract activity decreased by 10% in February, compared to the same period of a year ago, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. The value of contracts signed during February for future construction totaled $1.8 billion, down from last February’s $2 billion.

Residential construction declined by 21% to a monthly total of about $1 billion, down from the $1.3 billion reported last February. Nonbuilding construction improved by 2% to tally about $237 million, up from last February’s $232.1 million total. Nonresidential also improved, by 16%, to total $544 million, up from last year’s $467.3 million.

For the year-to-date, Georgia contract activity remains 5 percent behind the pace of the first two months of 2006, with the total value of new contracts at about $4 billion, down from the $4.2 billion reported for the same period of a year ago. Nonresidential is 24% ahead of the first two months of 2006, with a total of about $1.2 billion so far. Residential construction, estimated at $2.3 billion, is 11% down compared to last year. Nonbuilding construction, totaling roughly $445.6 million, is 28% behind last year’s pace.

Developer Announces 38-Story, Sustainable Aquarius

Lily Development has announced plans for Aquarius Tower, a 38-story, 240,000-sq-ft project in downtown Atlanta that will incorporate advanced technological and sustainable features. Construction is slated to begin this summer and be complete by fall 2009.

Designed by PFVS Architects, Aquarius Tower is reported to be the first condominium in Georgia to incorporate solar and wind energy, with the building featuring roof-top solar panels and wind turbines.

The project will include Georgia’s first automated, underground valet parking service.
Aquarius Tower is located across from the Georgia Aquarium.

Perkins+Will Unveils Design of Georgia’s First LEED-Silver Public High School

Atlanta-based Perkins + Will has designed Arabia Mountain High School in DeKalb County to be Georgia’s first LEED-Silver public high school.

Turner Construction is the architect’s design/build partner for the project, which just broke ground recently.

Sustainable features of the school include: bioswales with natural plantings to filter water runoff before it enters local streams; reduced water use with low-flow plumbing fixtures, waterless urinals, sink sensors; north-south positioning to reduce energy use; construction materials that are 10 percent to 20 percent recycled; exclusion of materials that emit noxious, harmful odors; and individually controlled HVAC to reduce energy waste in unoccupied areas.

The 240,000-sq-ft facility will feature 42 classrooms, 10 science labs, a 600-seat auditorium and 1,400-seat gymnasium.

Skanska USA Civil Awarded $30M Chattahoochee Water Pump Station

Skanska USA Civil was awarded a $30 million project from the DeKalb County Public Works Department to construct the Chattahoochee RAW Water Pump Station in Atlanta.

The scope of work for this project includes construction of a new raw water pump station along the Chattahoochee River. The contract requires new trash rakes, screens, sand separation equipment, conveyors, sluice gates, vertical turbine pumps, bridge crane, monorail cranes, miscellaneous architectural finishes, structural steel/metals, HVAC, plumbing, instrumentation, and electrical.

When completed, water pumped from the Chattahoochee River will be carried to new reservoirs where it will be treated and ready for consumption by local businesses and residents. Work began in January, with a project duration of 24 months.

Parsons, Jacobs to Manage South Cobb Tunnel Project

Pasadena, Calif.-based Parsons and its subcontractor, Jacobs Associates, have been awarded a contract by the Cobb County Water System to oversee work on the $200 million South Cobb Tunnel in Cobb County.

The South Cobb Tunnel consists of approximately 30,000 ft of 27-ft-diameter tunnel, concrete lining, construction and drop shafts, inlet structures and smaller connector tunnels. The project also includes a 130-MGD lift station, constructed in a 100-ft-diameter shaft, to convey wastewater flows from the tunnel to the South Cobb Water Reclamation Facility.

When operational in 2013, the South Cobb Tunnel will replace existing wastewater infrastructure nearing capacity and provide conveyance capacity for anticipated build-out of the basin.

Parsons and JA will oversee construction activities, make independent cost estimates to validate those made by the engineering team, advise CCWS on contracting issues, implement a quality control plan and assist with community outreach.

McShane Construction Erecting 22-Building Apartment Complex in Savannah

McShane Construction Corp. of Auburn, Ala., is building The Springs at Chatham Parkway, a 22-building, 352-unit apartment complex in Savannah for Milwaukee, Wis.-based Continental Properties Co.

The project includes 22 separate two-story, 19,000-sq-ft buildings, each featuring 16 units in a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations.

MSA Architects is the project architect. McShane expects to complete the project by June 2008.

GDOT Picks HNTB to Design, Engineer Pair of Reconstruction Jobs

The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to HNTB Corp. of Atlanta to design and engineering the widening and reconstruction of the State Route 11/U.S. Highway 129 in Union County from Blairsville, Ga. to the North Carolina state line and the S.R. 515/U.S. 76 highway between Blairsville and Young Harris, Ga. Both projects entail the widening of approximately 20 mi of rural highway from two to four lanes with a depressed median through mountainous terrain. The project will include concept development, highway design, bridge design, traffic engineering and hydraulic analysis.

FAE USA Completes Moves to New U.S. Headquarters Near Atlanta

Forestry and construction equipment manufacturer FAE USA has completed the move of its U.S. headquarters to a new 35,000-sq-ft facility in Flowery Branch, just north of Atlanta.

Click here for more Georgia News >>