McCarthy Building Forsyth Co. Schools

The Forsyth County School Board has selected the Atlanta office of McCarthy Building Cos. to build two schools. The contract for Haw Creek Elementary School and Lakeside Middle School totals nearly $41.7 million.

Serving more than 30,000 students, Forsyth County expects to add approximately 2,000 students a year. Currently, the district is home to 30 schools, but 15 additional new schools are needed between 2009 and 2013, according to the school board.

“Our team is excited to bring our nationwide education experience and best practices to work for the Forsyth County School Board,” Kevin Kuntz, executive vice president of McCarthy and head of McCarthy’s Atlanta office, said in a press statement.

When it opens in August 2009, the 145,000-sq-ft Haw Creek Elementary will have a capacity for 1,112 students and a projected opening enrollment of 870 students. Lakeside Middle, at 142,000 sq ft, will have a capacity of 1,037 students and a projected opening enrollment of 879.

Construction for both schools is funded by 2006 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax/bond referendum.

The project architect is James W. Buckley & Associates in Albany.

Georgia Contracts Decline 14% Again in August

Georgia’s residential and nonresidential sectors declined in August, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, resulting in a 14% overall drop in the value of contracts signed during the month for future construction. The total value of new contracts signed in August was nearly $2.3 billion. The value of new contracts had also dropped by 14% in July.

Residential construction showed the most significant decline, dropping by 34% compared to last August for a monthly total of about $930 million. The nonresidential construction market fell by 8%, for a total of $763.6 million, down from last August’s $832.7 million figure. The state’s nonbuilding market improved significantly, however, jumping 36% compared to last August to total about $602.9 million for the month.

For the year-to-date, Georgia contract activity is now 6% behind the first eight months of 2006, with the current value of new contracts at about $18.4 billion. Despite its recent downturn, the nonresidential market is still 31% ahead of last year’s pace with a total of $6.3 billion so far. Meanwhile, its August increase turned around the nonbuilding sector from negative to positive. That construction category is now 1% ahead of last year with a roughly $3.1 billion total. Residential construction, estimated at nearly $9.1 billion, is now 23% behind its 2006 pace.

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