Image courtesy Roger B. Kennedy Inc.

Roger B. Kennedy of Orlando is building a $13-million student housing facility at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Nonresidential contracts tallied approximately $365.7 million during October, or 50% lower than the same period of a year ago. The nonbuilding category—which includes infrastructure and energy projects—added just $98.4 million in new contracts during the month, a 94% decline compared to the previous October.

On a year-to-date basis, McGraw-Hill estimates Georgia’s overall contracts total at nearly $18 billion, or 68% higher than 2011’s pace.

That overall increase is due mostly to McGraw-Hill’s reporting of contracts at Southern Company’s Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant project during 2012. The Vogtle project has likewise boosted Georgia’s nonbuilding category, which stands at more than $9.9 billion through October.

The residential category is also positive on a year-to-date basis, with its 2012 total estimated at nearly $3.9 billion in new contracts, or 24% better than 2011’s pace. The nonresidential category is estimated at $4.1 billion through October, or 13% behind the same period for 2011.

Click here to read about the Southeast construction industry's prospects for 2013.