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As financially risky as the construction industry is, contractors should give priority to the relationships with sureties, banks and other stakeholders. To lose them is to be thrown adrift in uncertain and fiscally dangerous waters. Contractors need to provide more than lip service. Occasional proof of profitability and a round of golf aren’t enough. What lenders and sureties need is a top-to-bottom understanding of a contractor’s financial management systems and plans for the future. The best way to share this information is with a comprehensive reporting package presented once or twice a year. This can allay many anxieties. To continue

All contractors, no matter what market they serve, face a myriad of employment laws and regulations. For those contractors and subcontractors working on federal or federally funded projects, however, there are additional laws and regulations designed to promote government policies. The laws and regulations apply to every aspect of the employment process, including hiring, firing and everything in between. These laws also usually apply to subcontractors that furnish supplies or services necessary to perform a federal contract. Failure to comply with these laws can lead to a variety of consequences, including lawsuits, criminal penalties, fines and debarment and/or cancellation of

Throughout this issue of Southeast Construction, public works projects are front and center. Here, we provide a look at the strength of the market as a whole, and how contractors are fighting to win work in this critical construction sector. Photo: Dwayne Easterling, Jacobs Associates The $305-million South Cobb Tunnel, currently under construction in Cobb County, Ga., is one of the larger public-works projects under way in the four-state Southeast region. But it’s certainly not the only one. Image: City of Orlando Orlando’s “Venues” building program also includes a $425-mi llion performing-arts center. The center’s design team includes: HKS Architects,

It’s been a long time coming, but the final piece of the city of Jacksonville’s Better Jacksonville Plan is finally becoming a reality. Turner Construction Co. is leading the $224-million design-build construction of the Duval County Courthouse. Construction started last April, with scheduled completion in May 2012. Turner vice president and operations manager David Reaves says the company expects to top out the seven-story, 800,000-sq-ft structure in April. Image: Turner Construction The new Duval County Courthouse, designed by KBJ Architects of Jacksonville, Fla. Turner Construction Co. is leading the construction of the $224-million project. Related Links: Public Works: Industry’s Salvation

The Atlanta area is home to some of the biggest sewer and water projects in the four-state region, and the South Cobb Tunnel is one of the largest. This $305-million contract for the Cobb County, Ga., Water System represents the largest capital improvement project in the water system’s history. Shea –Traylor J.V., a joint venture of J.F. Shea Construction of Camarillo, Calif., and Traylor Brothers of Evansville, Ind., started work on the contract in March 2008. Construction began four months later, with completion expected by 2014. Photo: Dwayne Easterling, Jacobs Associates The South Cobb Tunnel project represents the largest capital

High-speed rail advocates celebrated the Jan. 28 award of grants from the $8-billion pot that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but officials must now figure out how to leverage the seed money into successful long-term programs. Florida, one of the big grant winners at $1.25 billion, is now pondering design-build and public-private partnerships along with other funding sources. Related Links: Public Works: Industry’s Salvation Transportation, Military and Civic Projects are Saving the Day for Some Southeast Firms Most of the funds went to long-term programs that now can proceed with environmental reviews and preliminary engineering. But

Military project starts remain strong throughout the four-state region. But how long can it last? Photo: Walton Construction Co. Walton Construction Co. of Harahan, La., is building a barracks complex at Parris Island, S.C. Photo: AeroPhoto, www.aerophoto.com VOA Associates of Orlando is the designer of record for the $21-million barracks complex for the Echelons Above Brigade at Fort Stewart, Ga. Image: BPRH ShenkelShultz Architecture of Orlando designed and Balfour Beatty Construction is building an elementary and middle school at Fort Bragg, N.C. Image courtesy of Balfour Beatty Construction. Image: BPRH BRPH Cos. of Melbourne, Fla., designed a $7-million, Child Development

Baseball, transportation and education have become the top construction markets in Miami, an area where residential condominium work has hit a wall and public work has taken precedence. Photo: Odebrecht Construction Miami International Airport and the surrounding area is one of the areas in Miami where construction activity is robust. Projects include MIA’s North Terminal, an extension of Miami’s light-rail line (pictured here) and the Miami Intermodal Center. Image: Turner Construction Co. Miami Dade College is constructing a hospitality management building in downtown Miami. Related Links: Game Changer Image: Suffolk Construction Suffolk Construction expects to complete Florida International University’s School

WILLIAMS DUEKER Aguirre Roden announced Taylor Dueker, AIA, has been named vice president for its Austin office. In his role, Dueker will be responsible for professional design services, business development and project management. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in art and design from MIT and master’s of architecture from MIT. KBR, Houston, announced the appointment of Mark S. Williams as group president overseeing KBR’s Government & Defense, Infrastructure & Minerals, and Power & Industrial Business Units. Williams has more than 25 years experience in the government and defense sector. Williams joinsed KBR from Jacobs Engineering, where he most