Bond Measure to Fund $970 Million in New Schools

By a 53-47 percent margin, voters in North Carolina's Wake County - home of Raleigh - passed the largest school construction bond package in the county's history in November. The measure provides $970 million for land acquisition, construction, renovation and repair projects that will help the school system prepare for the additional 32,000 students expected to enroll by 2010. The school system currently has 128,072 students, making it the 21st largest in the U.S.

The bonds will cover most of the costs of a nearly $1.1-billion plan that calls for purchasing land for 13 schools; building 17 new facilities, including 15 that will be year-round elementary and middle schools; converting 22 existing schools to year-round facilities; renovating 13 schools; conducting repairs at 100 schools; and purchasing new computers.

Work will begin almost immediately. According to reports in the Raleigh News & Observer, the school system will request an advance on some of the funds from the county commission in order to start on the most urgent projects. These include some new schools set to open in 2008. Work on individual projects could begin by March.

This bond is the first phase of a $4.2-billion plan that includes four bond packages through 2014. The next one could come before voters in 2008 or 2009. The plan was created in response to the expected 94,000 additional students expected to attend Wake County schools by 2020. By Bea Quirk

Double-Digit Declines for Both North, South Carolina

The value of new contracts signed in October for future construction activity decreased by 14 percent in North Carolina and by 13 percent in South Carolina, McGraw-Hill Construction reported.

In North Carolina - which totaled about $1.8 billion for the month - all categories were negative. The nonresidential category fell by 22 percent to total nearly $410 million, while residential dropped by 11 percent to roughly $1.3 billion. The volume of nonbuilding contracts fell by 16 percent, however, compared to last October and totaled roughly $95.9 million.

Year-to-date, however, contract activity in North Carolina is still 6 percent ahead of 2005's pace, with a total of approximately $21.4 billion. The nonresidential category, at nearly $5.1 billion, is 19 percent ahead of last year, while the residential market is now 6 percent higher with a roughly $14.6 billion total. The nonbuilding sector is down 18 percent compared to 2005, with a nearly $1.7 billion total.

In South Carolina, October contracts totaled about $975.1 million. The nonresidential category improved by 21 percent to $278.5 million for the month. However, residential declined by 19 percent to tally about $625.1 million. Nonbuilding dropped 40 percent to a total of about $71.5 million.

Despite the October downturn, the year-to-date value of South Carolina contracts remains 2 percent ahead of 2005's pace, with new contracts totaling nearly $10.8 billion through the first ten months of '06. The nonbuilding category, with a cumulative total of about $918.8 million, is the only negative category and is 9 percent behind last year. The residential sector, at nearly $7.5 billion, is now just 1 percent ahead. The nonresidential category, valued at about $2.5 billion through October, is 10 percent ahead of 2005.

Hardin Construction Wins Projects in Raleigh, Myrtle Beach

Hardin Construction Co. of Atlanta was recently awarded contracts to build RBC Plaza, a mixed-use tower in Raleigh, N.C., and phase four of Marriott's Ocean Watch Villas at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The contractor is building RBC Plaza for Highwoods Properties and Dominion Partners. The 32-story, 757,000-sq.-ft. tower will be the headquarters for RBC Centura Bank upon completion. The property will include a mix of residential, office, retail and parking, and will be topped off by a 154-ft.-tall roof feature. Cooper Carry and Associates of Atlanta is the project architect. Work began in October, with completion scheduled for late 2009.

Also, Hardin's latest project for Marriott at Ocean Watch Villas is a 16-story, 75-unit, 124,000-sq.-ft. timeshare resort with 8,000-sq.-ft. activities center; a three-story, 287-space parking deck; and 175,000-gallon pool. HKS Architects of Dallas is the project architect. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2008.

Rodgers Builders Starts State's New Data Center

Rodgers Builders of Charlotte recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its contract to build the State of North Carolina's new data center in Rutherford County.

The 53,000-sq.-ft. data center is expected to be completed by January 2008.

Gallagher & Associates Designing Carolina Basketball Museum

Bethesda, MD-based Gallagher & Associates is designing the Carolina Basketball Museum, a 7,500-sq.-ft. museum that will showcase a century of basketball history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. According to the firm, the museum is to be located on campus adjacent to the Dean Smith Arena.

The museum will be located in the new Educational Foundation Office, also known as the Ernie Williamson Athletic Center, which is now under construction. The university's educational foundation, the Rams Club, is providing the funding for the museum and the new building, which is being designed by the Chapel Hill-based architecture firm of Corley Redfoot Zack.