Georgia Contracts: 37% Decline in March

The overall value of new Georgia contracts signed in March for future construction fell 37%, compared to the same period of a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction. The total value of new contracts for the month was roughly $779.1 million, compared to last March’s total of $1.2 billion.

During the month, all three markets measured by McGraw-Hill Construction showed significant declines. The residential category fell by 48% compared to last year, for a total of about $250.4 million. The nonresidential category dropped 17% to total nearly $419.7 million for the month. The nonbuilding sector declined the most, however, dropping 58% to total nearly $109 million.

For the year to date, Georgia activity is 43% behind the first three months of 2008, with nearly $2.6 billion in new contracts so far, compared to the $4.6 billion at the same time last year. The nonresidential sector is 42% behind the 2008 pace, with almost $1.3 billion in new contracts. Residential is 57% behind last year’s pace, with a nearly $712.9 million total. The nonbuilding market is 17% behind last year, with a $597.1 million total.

GS&P Designs Cobb Co. Transportation Management Center

Gresham, Smith and Partners of Atlanta announced the completion of design for the Cobb County Transportation Management Center in Marietta. The 25,000-sq-ft facility addition will house the operations responsible for managing Cobb County's Advanced Transportation Management System. The TMC was designed to LEED standards and is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. Construction was slated to begin in May, and the facility is expected to be fully operational in 2010.

The TMC features an operations room where images from 70 closed-circuit television cameras will be monitored for traffic surveillance on an 8' x 16' video wall. The activity of more than 500 traffic signals in the county are also controlled from the TMC.

"The design of this facility will not only enhance our ability to monitor our roadways and increase mobility and safety for the users, but through utilization of sustainable and energy efficient design elements, we will also decrease operational costs of the Department," stated David Montanye, director of the Cobb County Department of Transportation. "The function of this facility is inherently energy intensive because of the technology it houses, so energy efficiency became a key strategy for insulating the county against increases in utility costs."

The facility is designed to be 18% more efficient than code requirements.

GS&P provided architectural design services, as well as interior design, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and civil engineering. The firm also will provide construction administration services.

McShane Completes Springs at Effingham Apartment Complex

McShane Construction Co.’s Southeast regional office completed the 352-unit, 430,000-sq-ft Springs at Effingham multi-family apartment complex for developer/owner Continental Properties Co. The project is located in Rincon, just north of Savannah. 

The project consisted of 22 residential buildings positioned throughout the development. Each building contains 16 apartment units in a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations. The Springs at Effingham also includes 170 integrated garage spaces arranged within the residential buildings and additional surface parking.

MSA Architects provided the architectural services for this large residential assignment.

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