The pace of new North Carolina construction contracts got off to a slow start in January, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of ENR Southeast. The company reported that the state registered approximately $908.5 million in new contracts during the month of January, down 22% from last January�s nearly $1.2-billion total. All three of McGraw-Hill Construction�s project sectors showed double-digit declines for the month. The nonbuilding category, which includes infrastructure and civil contracts, fell 41% compared to the same period of a year ago, and recorded just $139.7 million in new volume. Meanwhile, the residential sector tallied roughly $376.1 million in

A surge in commercial work fueled a 21% improvement in the value of new South Carolina contracts in January, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of ENR Southeast. The overall total for the month was $618.4 million, up from last January�s $509.5 million. According to the company, South Carolina�s nonresidential category recorded nearly $276.4 million in new contracts, more than double the amount tallied during the same period of a year ago, when it totaled $119.3 million. The other two construction sectors experienced declines in new contracts. The value of new residential contracts fell 4% compared to last January, for a

Scott Fisher was promoted to the position of vice president of information services for Barnhill Contracting Co. in Raleigh, N.C. Fisher previously served as the company’s IT director. PRIVITERA FISHER Brendan Horgan was named chief executive officer of Sunbelt Rentals, an equipment rental firm based in Fort Mill, S.C. Horgan, who replaces Joe Phelan , has been with Sunbelt Rentals for the past 15 years, previously serving as chief operating officer and chief sales officer. Randy Thron was named senior vice president of federal programs for BRPH in Melbourne, Fla. He has been with BRPH for 25 years. David Privitera,

SnapShot  March 7, 2011 Construction of the $48-million Soho Beach House Construction of the $48-million Soho Beach House, a members-only hotel in Miami, involved the historical restoration of the 1940s-era Hotel Sovereign. A section of the existing hotel was removed to make way for a 17-story tower. The addition of a rooftop amenities deck on the eighth floor of the existing hotel required structural enhancements. Contractor Moss & Associates worked with local architect Allan T. Shulman. Photographer: Angi Gatica Submitted By: Mark Sell, director of client services, Wragg & Casas Public Relations, Miami

On The Scene   March 7, 2011 Our editors are everywhere�at all the industry events that matter most. When They're not speaking on panels, they're busy taking notes�and snapping photos�so they can inform their readers about what was said and who was there. Topping Out Topping Out In January, Balfour Beatty Construction topped out its 396 Alhambra Circle project in Coral Gables, Fla. The $130-million project includes remodeling a seven-story building and constructing a 15-story, 189,000-sq-ft office tower, which is precertified LEED Gold. Photo Courtesy Of Balfour Beatty Construction 2011 Outlook 2011 Outlook On Feb. 1, McGraw-Hill Construction welcomed contractors and

The Florida Supreme Court on March 4 unanimously rejected a lawsuit by Florida senators aimed at forcing Gov. Rick Scott (R) to accept federal funding for a proposed $2.7-billion high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa, effectively ending a last-ditch effort to save the project. The lawsuit, filed by Sen. Thad Altman (R) of Melbourne and Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa, had asserted that Scott lacked the authority to override the actions of a previous legislature, which had approved the project. Related Links: Supreme Court High-Speed Rail Ruling Justices were not convinced of the senators’ argument. In a brief,

UPDATE: On March 2, Gov. Rick Scott filed a response to the senators’ lawsuit. Also, the Florida Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in the case for Thursday, March 3. Florida state legislators have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott over his rejection of more than $2 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail line. Related Links: Blog: Making the Case Against Gov. Scott Blog: ...And Gov. Rick Scott Responds Sen. Thad Altman (R) of Melbourne and Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa petitioned the Florida Supreme Court on Feb. 28, seeking an injunction “requiring that (Gov. Rick

A new global engineering and design-build giant is set to emerge at month�s end as CDM, the Cambridge, Mass.-based design firm-constructor specializing in environmental infrastructure acquires Wilbur Smith Associates, the Columbia, S.C., transportation engineer. The transaction, under way since early 2010, will create a $1.2-billion company that meshes in culture, specialties, employee ownership and international presence, its executives say. The acquisition, which is set to wrap on Feb. 25, creates a company with about 5,700 employees, about 25% of whom are based abroad, says Richard D. Fox, CDM chairman and CEO. SMITH FOX M. Stevenson Smith, Wilbur Smith’s chairman and

UPDATE: On Feb. 28, Florida senators Thad Altman (R ) of Melbourne and Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott that seeks an injunction halting his rejection of $2.4 billion of federal funding for the proposed Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail line. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has again rejected a proposal to build a $2.7-billion high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando. The governor rebuffed a last-ditch attempt by local, state and federal officials to address his previously stated concerns over financial risks, thus closing the latest chapter in the state's decades-long drive to build high-speed

UPDATE: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has given Florida officials until Feb. 25 to find a way to address Gov. Rick Scott’s stated concerns about financial risk and keep the project alive. Florida state lawmakers and members of its Congressional delegation are racing to find a way to save the state�s high-speed rail plans and the $2.4 billion in federal dollars committed to build it, after Gov. Rick Scott rejected the funds for building a Tampa-to-Orlando line. Related Links: Letter from Gov. Rick Scott to US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood “In order to complete it, it looks like we are