New Contract Activity Declined Significantly Again in March

Also, R.J. Griffi n & Co. of Atlanta recently completed its $103.1 million Brookwood project roughly five weeks early.

Georgia Contracts: 37% Decline in March

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

During the month, all three markets showed significant declines. residential fell by 48% compared to last year, for a $250.4 million total. Nonresidential dropped 17% to total $419.7 million for the month. The nonbuilding sector declined the most, dropping 58% to total nearly $109 million.

For the year to date, activity is 43% behind the first three months of 2008, with nearly $2.6 billion in new contracts. Nonresidential is 42% behind the ‘08 pace, with $1.3 billion in new contracts. Residential is 57% behind, with a $712.9 million total. The nonbuilding market is 17% behind, at $597.1 million.

Gresham, Smith and Partners 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 facility is designed to be 18% more efficient than code requirements.

In addition to design services, GS&P 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, with each containing 16 apartment units in 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 architectural design services.

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