A big drop in the volume of new nonresidential contracts pushed Florida’s overall June total down 18%, compared to a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of ENR Southeast. The company estimated the value of new Florida contracts at roughly $2.1 billion for the month.

Photo submitted by Skanska USA
Skanska USA recently broke ground on an Academic Health Center project at Florida International University in Miami.

Florida’s nonresidential sector registered an estimated $411.9 million in new contracts in June, 59% lower than it had recorded in June 2011. The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure projects, also declined, by 7%, to deliver about $665.4 million in new contracts.

Residential contracts continued to move forward at an accelerated pace, though. McGraw-Hill estimated this sector delivered nearly $1.1 billion in new contracts during June, or 21% better than a year ago.

On a year-to-date basis, new Florida construction contracts stand at nearly $13.8 billion through June, or 18% better than the first half of 2011, when McGraw-Hill estimated contracts at about $11.7 billion.

Residential has shown the most growth in 2012, with its $6.1-billion year-to-date total representing a 35% uptick so far. The nonbuilding sector is 12% ahead of last year, with just over $4.4 billion in new contracts.

The big June drop-off in nonresidential’s numbers pushed that category’s 2012 total down to non-positive territory, with its $3.3 billion tally on par with last year’s mid-year volume.