Central Florida is poised to have “more work than what we’ve experienced in the last five years,” says Rick Goldman, vice president and district manager for PCL Construction Services.

Although it features just eight floors of guest rooms, conference rooms and boardrooms, the new AC Hotel Orlando could make a claim that it’s the tallest hotel in downtown.

As is the case in other Southeast cities, Orlando construction activity remains strong across both private and public markets, says Lipscomb.

A third worker died while on the job at the sprawling, 21-mile-long I-4 Ultimate in Orlando. Michael Tolman, 56, an ironworker with Shelby Erectors, a project subcontractor, died March 8 after being struck.

While major transportation projects along I-4 and at the airport promise to boost Orlando construction activity, Maze also sees a “resurgence” in the office market as well as in hospitality and theme-park contracts.

For its I-Drive NASCAR project, design firm Rabits & Romano Architecture, Planning and Design transformed a 30-year-old, 65,000-sq-ft warehouse space into an indoor kart racing facility and entertainment complex.

To build the city of Orlando’s five-story Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Balfour Beatty-led project team had to overcome numerous challenges, including major public funding issues and several subcontractor defaults.