Industry News | What's Happening in the Region
Miami Condo Project Moves into Vertical Construction
Vertical construction has begun on Rider Residences, a 12‑story, 152‑unit condominium in Miami being developed by Ciprés and Rilea Group. Beauchamp Construction is the general contractor for the project, which is located near Wynwood and includes approximately 11,000 sq ft of ground‑level and rooftop retail and food and beverage space.
Developers said floor cycles are planned at one to two weeks, with top‑off expected later this year and project delivery targeted for 2027. The project is backed by a $90‑million construction loan secured in late 2025.
Merger Set for INVISION And GastingerWalker&
Architecture firms INVISION and GastingerWalker& have merged under the INVISION brand. The combined firm will include nearly 200 employees across seven U.S. cities and operate within the HFW Cos. network, expanding its national footprint and practice capabilities.
Poettker Construction Named Top Performer
Poettker Construction has been named to the Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2026 Top Performers List, earning Platinum status in ABC’s STEP Health and Safety Management System. The company reported more than 400,000 work hours without a lost‑time incident in 2025 and also received national rankings from ABC in multiple market sectors.
Florida School District Cuts Energy Costs
Matern Professional Engineering is modernizing central energy plants at two Flagler County, Fla., high schools in a districtwide effort to reduce operating costs and extend HVAC infrastructure life. The central plant at Flagler Palm Coast High School came online in December and is projected to save more than 213,000 kWh annually, generating a $293,000 energy rebate for the district.
Upgrades are also underway at Matanzas High School, where construction is scheduled for completion in spring 2027. That project has already secured a $220,000 rebate. By reusing existing infrastructure at Flagler Palm Coast and expanding the plant at Matanzas, the district said it avoided more than $1 million in construction costs through value engineering and phased execution.
McMillan Pazdan Smith Acquires MCA Architecture
McMillan Pazdan Smith has acquired MCA Architecture, both based in Greenville, S.C., to deepen its industrial design practice across the Eastern U.S. Founded in 1976 and currently marking its 50th anniversary, MCA has designed more than 40 million sq ft of industrial space across 11 states for clients including Boeing, Nexans and Dominion Energy. MCA’s 25-plus staff will join MPS, an architecture and advisory firm with studios in 11 Southeast cities serving the manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and energy sectors. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Capstone Breaks Ground On Two Multifamily Projects
Birmingham, Ala.-based Capstone Building Corp. has started construction on two multifamily developments set for 2027 delivery. In Irondale, Ala., Capstone and developer StoneRiver Co. have broken ground on Current at Grants Mill, a 330-unit, 48-acre Class-A community at 1951 Grants Mill Rd. The project spans garden-style apartments, townhomes, carriage houses and cottage-style homes with one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, plus amenities including two pools, a clubhouse and fitness center. In Travelers Rest, S.C., Capstone has begun the $28.1-million Liva development for developer Clear Mountain Properties, comprising 120 apartment units across five garden-style buildings and 32 three-bedroom townhomes. The project features a clubhouse, pool, bike barn and public walking trails.
Miami Hotel Completes Roof Renovation
A 15,300‑sq‑ft roof renovation was completed in early 2026 at the Mutiny Hotel in Miami’s Coconut Grove area, addressing waterproofing challenges while preserving the property’s original 1960s design. AJF Roofing completed the work for Provident Hotels & Resorts, managing limited access and ongoing occupancy in a dense urban setting. The project incorporated SBS and liquid‑applied roofing systems supplied by Siplast.
West Palm Beach Tower Taps 1,000 Auger Cast Piles
Gilbane and Savcon are general contractors on Olara Residences, a 28-story, 1.6-million-sq-ft condominium tower in West Palm Beach, Fla. The 3.5-acre waterfront site required raising the grade 2 ft above the floodplain. The structure rests on more than 1,000 auger cast piles that reach a depth of 85 ft. Developed by Savanna and designed by Arquitectonica, the 275-unit tower is scheduled for completion in 2028.
Smackover Lithium Lands Arkansas Offtake Deal
Smackover Lithium, a joint venture of Standard Lithium and Equinor, has signed its first binding offtake agreement for lithium from its South West Arkansas Project. Trafigura will purchase 8,000 metric tons of battery‑grade lithium carbonate annually for 10 years once production begins. The project’s first phase is designed for 22,500 metric tons of annual capacity.
