The Miami Intermodal Center’s $184-million Roadway Improvements Program, built by the Florida Dept. of Transportation, received the “Project of the Year” award from the Miami-Dade Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. The award recognizes civil engineering achievements that represent “a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society,” according to the award criteria. Related Links: Florida Contracts Dropped 42% in August Keys Resort Expands With Green, Modular Techniques JCON Group Named GC for Villa Majorca J.L. Wallace Begins Partial Renovation of Bentley Village The award was presented to FDOT and the MIC project’s design engineering firms at the

As part of its 3rd Annual Vision Awards, the Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council of the Urban Land Institute presented the 2009 “Project of the Year” award went to the $472-million, 570,000-sq-ft Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Related Links: EPA Expected To Step Up Enforcement Baker Roofing Co. Launches Renewable Energy Division Maschmeyer Concrete Acquires Central Florida-based Company The infill development project, located along downtown Miami’s Biscayne Corridor, was designed by Cesar Pelli of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The Arsht Center is Miami-Dade County’s largest-ever public/private-sector partnership. The association also honored Terry Stiles with its 2009

Compared to the same period of a year ago, the value of new contracts signed in August for future construction increased by 5% overall in North Carolina, but fell by 18% in South Carolina, according to the latest information from McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction. Related Links: North Carolina’s Crane Standard Takes Effect N.C. OKs New Progress Energy Power Plant in Wayne Co. Parsons Reaches Milestone at Savannah River Site Project Hendrick to Build Intimidator Coaster at Carowinds Construction Starts on N.C.’s First Green Oyster Hatchery $37.6-Million Design-Build Contract Awarded for Fort Bragg K-8 In North Carolina, the overall

Fort Myers-based J.L. Wallace has started the partial renovation of an assisted-living facility at Bentley Village in Naples. Related Links: Florida Contracts Dropped 42% in August Keys Resort Expands With Green, Modular Techniques MIC Roadways Program Named ASCE Project of the Year JCON Group Named GC for Villa Majorca The project includes the conversion of the first-floor common areas and the addition of residence rooms. Architectural services are being provided by Fletcher Thompson. The engineer is Matern Professional Engineering.

Atlanta-based Evergreen Construction has started work on the newest elementary school for the Cherokee County School District. Related Links: Westin Peachtree Plaza to Replace All 6,350 Windows Value of Georgia’s New Contracts Fell 16% in August The $16-million facility, in Actworth, was designed by JKH Architects of Dalton. The school will total more than 130,000 sq ft. Construction began in September. Completion is scheduled for January 2011.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Hendrick Construction was awarded a contract to build a new roller coaster at Carowinds. The amusement park is touting the 23-story-tall Intimidator as the “tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in the Southeast.” Related Links: North Carolina’s Crane Standard Takes Effect August Contracts: Up in N.C., Down in S.C. N.C. OKs New Progress Energy Power Plant in Wayne Co. Parsons Reaches Milestone at Savannah River Site Project Construction Starts on N.C.’s First Green Oyster Hatchery $37.6-Million Design-Build Contract Awarded for Fort Bragg K-8 The NASCAR-themed coaster—named for the late Dale Earnhardt—will feature a 5,316-ft-long track with a 232-ft

The N.C. Dept. of Labor announced that the state’s new crane safety standard went into effect Oct. 1. As a result of a series of fatal crane accidents across the country in 2008, the N.C. Department of Labor began discussions with crane industry officials in the state to discuss a draft standard in 2008. Related Links: August Contracts: Up in N.C., Down in S.C. N.C. OKs New Progress Energy Power Plant in Wayne Co. Parsons Reaches Milestone at Savannah River Site Project Hendrick to Build Intimidator Coaster at Carowinds Construction Starts on N.C.’s First Green Oyster Hatchery $37.6-Million Design-Build Contract

The North Carolina Utilities Commission has approved Progress Energy Carolinas' plan to build new natural gas-fueled power generation in Wayne County, to replace a coal-fired plant that the utility will retire in 2013. Related Links: North Carolina’s Crane Standard Takes Effect August Contracts: Up in N.C., Down in S.C. Parsons Reaches Milestone at Savannah River Site Project Hendrick to Build Intimidator Coaster at Carowinds Construction Starts on N.C.’s First Green Oyster Hatchery $37.6-Million Design-Build Contract Awarded for Fort Bragg K-8 Raleigh, N.C.-based Progress Energy’s proposed 950-megawatt combined-cycle power plant is located near the site of the H.F. Lee coal-fired plant,

Wastewater utilities and contractors and designers that work in the wastewater sector must be prepared to adapt to a changing regulatory environment and a volatile economy in order to stay afloat, according to speakers and attendees at the Water Environment Federation’s annual conference, held Oct. 11-14 in Orlando. Greater regulatory enforcement, the current economy, technology advances and the need for sustainability-based measures are clearly pressing WEF members to make short- and long-term changes. Related Links: ULI Presents Project of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Awards Baker Roofing Co. Launches Renewable Energy Division Maschmeyer Concrete Acquires Central Florida-based Company Peter Silva, assistant

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts signed in August for future construction declined by 42% overall, compared to the same period of a year ago. The total of all new contracts was nearly $1.7 billion, compared to the nearly $2.9 billion of last August. Related Links: Keys Resort Expands With Green, Modular Techniques MIC Roadways Program Named ASCE Project of the Year JCON Group Named GC for Villa Majorca J.L. Wallace Begins Partial Renovation of Bentley Village All three construction categories declined by significant double-digit percentage points. The nonbuilding sector fell 19%