Florida: Residential Rises? The previous year was definitely a stormy one for firms busy in the Sunshine State. McGraw-Hill Construction’s latest estimate for Florida’s 2009 construction activity predicts an 18% overall decline. This is the result of a 27% downturn in the state’s nonresidential projects as well as a 36% further retrenchment in the residential market. Fortunately for Florida firms, the nonbuilding sector buoyed the overall number somewhat, growing by a significant 35% during 2009. Related Links: 2010 Southeast Construction Outlook Georgia 2010 Outlook North Carolina 2010 Outlook South Carolina 2010 Outlook For 2010, McGraw-Hill predicts a 6% overall increase
After three years of declines, the construction market may be eyeing a rebound in 2010 thanks to a much improved residential sector, but for designers and contractors in other building sectors, it could be too soon to celebrate. McGraw-Hill Construction is forecasting that total construction starts will climb 11% to $466.2 billion in 2010, following an estimated 25% decline in 2009. Photo: Bruce Buckley Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, recently delivered the 2010 Outlook. Slide Show Source: McGraw-Hill Construction. This chart shows the percentage increases, and decreases, in the value of new construction starts on
Nationwide research is firming up the case for “intelligent” compaction, a construction method three decades in the making that could save billions of dollars a year in potholed roads, cracked bridges, broken dams and blown-out tires. But as it represents a huge cultural shift in project delivery, the industry is struggling to find a standard way to roll it out. IC in its simplest form is an onboard measuring device that shows roller operators whether they are overcompacting, undercompacting or right on target in soil, aggregate and asphalt. Photo courtesy Iowa State University. David White, a professor at Iowa State
The Brookwood is a 19-story, 430,000-sq-ft, 212-unit condominium tower in Atlanta. It features street-level retail, a one-acre green deck amenity level—with a clubhouse, swimming pool, lawn and garden—secure underground residential parking and above-grade retail parking. Photo: R.J. Griffin & Co. Related Links: Southeast Construction’s Best Of 2009 Awards Best Of 2009 Slideshow When the original design exceeded the owner’s budget, R. J. Griffin & Co. and architect Smallwood Reynolds Stewart Stewart & Associates, both of Atlanta, modified the design and used alternative materials to reduce the cost by about $2 million. The project encountered difficulties during the foundation process due
The University of Miami Central Energy Plant represents one of the largest facilities of its kind in South Florida. Among its features: three high-efficiency, variable-flow 3900-ton chillers piped in parallel and each discharging into a 36-in chilled water piping/distribution system; three cooling towers; three variable-flow 500-hp chilled-water pumps; three constant-flow, 600-hp condenser water pumps piped in parallel; 36-in chilled water piping distribution system; three air separators in the return chilled water piping systems; one chilled water piping bypass; 42-in condenser water piping distribution system; seven chilled-water air-handling units; and a 12,000-gallon fuel oil system, among others. Photo: John J. Kirlin
The renovation of the Peachtree Presbyterian Church consisted of five distinct phases. These included the relocation of the Senior Pastor and administration offices; the addition of the main sanctuary to add pre-function gathering spaces and additional classrooms; a new youth building that includes two worship areas for middle- and high-school students; a 360-space parking deck; and a pedestrian tunnel that was bored under Roswell Road to connect the main campus to the youth building and the parking deck. Photo: New South Construction Co. Related Links: Southeast Construction’s Best Of 2009 Awards Best Of 2009 Slideshow Despite challenges, all five phases
When the School District of Palm Beach County and Florida Atlantic University teamed up to place an elementary school on the edge of the college’s 150-acre natural pine habitat and build a new educational center for the university, the partners aimed for LEED certification and pursued every possible point, eventually exceeding goals and earning LEED-Gold status for both structures. Photo: Pirtle Construction Co. Related Links: Southeast Construction’s Best Of 2009 Awards Best Of 2009 Slideshow The result was the $29.3-million Pine Jog Elementary School and FAU/Pine Jog Environmental Education Center in West Palm Beach. “From a design, construction, mechanical, health
The $200-million Raleigh Convention Center is built from a mix of traditional and unique materials: limestone, granite, buff-colored brick and glass. Located in downtown Raleigh, the facility’s design locates the center’s sizable service requirements and its large exhibit hall out of site, below grade and under two city streets. Photo: TVS Design Related Links: Southeast Construction’s Best Of 2009 Awards Best Of 2009 Slideshow The project was the largest building project ever attempted by the City of Raleigh and the County of Wake. More than 100 public meetings were facilitated by the design team during the project’s development. The joint
Under a contract valued at nearly $25 million, the BE&K Building Group provided design-build services for Randolph Hospital’s Outpatient and Cancer Center. The BE&K Building Group served as the design-build team leader and construction manager. Photo: BE&K Building Group Related Links: Southeast Construction’s Best Of 2009 Awards Best Of 2009 Slideshow The 66,626-sq-ft building addition is comprised of two levels, with the outpatient center on one level and the cancer center below. The single-level 37,117-sq-ft outpatient center houses comprehensive diagnostic imaging services, including expanded radiographic, CAT scanning, ultrasound, MRI and PET scanning capabilities, a women’s center, laboratory and facilities for
Taking self-storage to the next level, Miller Construction Co. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., built the $22-million, high-tech, hurricane-fortified RoboVault, also in Fort Lauderdale. Photo: Miller Construction Co. Related Links: Southeast Construction’s Best Of 2009 Awards Best Of 2009 Slideshow RoboVault features 456 storage containers, biometric recognition and private access to storage areas with continuous monitoring, back-up power generation, fully automated container retrieval, climate-controlled wine storage and safe-deposit boxes. Miller began construction of the 155,000-sq-ft center in May 2008 for developer Marvin Chaney of Fort Lauderdale and completed the project in June. Miller structural engineers and Gustavo Carbonell Architects of Fort
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