Georgia Contracts Fall 31% in November

For the second month in a row, the value of new Georgia contracts in the residential and nonbuilding sectors declined significantly, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, resulting in a 31% overall drop in the value of November contracts signed during the month for future construction. The total value of November contracts was nearly $1.5 billion.

Residential construction continued to fall, declining by 36% compared to last November for a total of about $665.3 million. The nonbuilding sector dropped by 62% to total just $208.6 million for the month, down from last November’s $546.2 million. Nonresidential improved by 11%, however, for a total of $601.3 million.

For the year-to-date, Georgia contract activity is now 11% behind the first 11 months of 2006, with the current value of new contracts estimated at about $23.9 billion. The nonresidential market remains the only positive sector, and is 25% ahead of last year’s pace with about $8.3 billion in new contracts. The nonbuilding sector is 11% behind last year with a roughly $4.3 billion total. Residential construction, at about $11.3 billion, is 27% behind the previous year’s pace.

Hardin Tops Out 3344 Peachtree

Hardin Construction Co. of Atlanta recently topped out its 3344 Peachtree project, and its luxury home component, Sovereign. Hardin is the general contractor for the 50-story, mixed-use building, which is located in the Buckhead area of Atlanta.

Rising 635 ft, 3344 Peachtree features 500,000 sq ft of Class-A office space, retail space and 82 luxury condominium units. The project is a development of Atlanta-based Regent Partners. The building was designed by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates of Atlanta.

The project is on schedule to be completed this summer.

Skanska Building Health, Wellness Center at University of West Georgia

Construction is under way on a new health, wellness and lifelong learning center for the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. The Georgia Board of Regents and UWG selected Skanska USA Building as the contractor for the 120,000-sq-ft facility, which includes an arena and multiple ball courts with a capacity for 7,500 people. It is expected to open in January 2009. Source: Engineering News-Record.

Batson-Cook Breaks Ground on LaGrange College Library

Batson-Cook Construction of West Point, Ga., recently broke ground on its Frank and Laura Lewis Library project at LaGrange College in LaGrange.

Batson-Cook, working in concert with Partners Development of Knoxville, Tenn., and Perry Dean Rogers Partners of Boston, is constructing the $11 million, 44,000-sq-ft facility to Silver LEED certification standards.

The library will be built with a cast-in-place, post-tensioned concrete frame and steel structure. In addition to its collection of books and research materials, the library will feature a multi-media classroom, sound room, a media production room, coffee bar, 24-hour study hall and reference rooms.

Atlanta ACE Mentor Program Launches Careers Program

The Atlanta affiliate of the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Mentor Program announced it has launched a new initiative to improve its recruitment efforts of local high school and college students to careers in the construction industry.

The Atlanta ACE chapter held a launch party featuring Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

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