Your source for construction industry news in the Carolinas
GroundBreak Carolinas is honored to spotlight Chad Frampton, President and CEO of Frampton Construction, who has been named to the Class of 2026 GroundBreakers — an exclusive group of individuals recognized for going above and beyond to make a difference in the construction community across the Carolinas. Founded in 1993, Frampton is a Southeast-based construction firm…
When uncertainty rises, staying informed, prepared, and focused on what you can control can keep pessimism from becoming a business strategy. I keep coming back to this topic. There’s no shortage of things to worry about these days. Read the news, turn on the TV, or spend five minutes scrolling through social media, and you’ll…
The construction industry continues to grow, but a closer examination of the latest economic indicators reveals an increasingly divided market. While data center development is generating extraordinary demand for construction services, much of the broader industry is experiencing slower growth, tightening margins, and renewed uncertainty. For construction companies operating in North Carolina and South Carolina,…
A great teacher can change the course of a student’s life, and for many young people entering the skilled trades, that starts in the shop, garage or classroom. Today, Carhartt announced the eight recipients of its second annual Steel Apple Awards, recognizing outstanding educators from across the country who are helping students build rewarding careers…
Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Inc. (OBE), North America’s leading vertically integrated manufacturer, fabricator, and distributor of architectural hardware, glass, and glazing systems, today announced the release of Safety & Security in Design, a joint research report published in strategic partnership with The American Institute of Architects (AIA). The nationwide study examines how architects and specifiers across diverse…
Real estate investor sentiment improved modestly after falling for two consecutive quarters, recovering from an all-time low index score of 84, and improving to 89 in the Fall 2026 RCN Capital/CJ Patrick Company Investor Sentiment Index (ISI)™. The index score marked the third consecutive quarter with a score below 90 and was 12 points lower…
The U.S. industrial new lease count index has returned to its historical peak, while the renewal index has fallen, according to data from CoStar, the leading global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. Large tenants have led new-lease recovery, as the index for leases of 200,000 square feet…
Total construction starts declined 1.5% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.33 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts fell 6.3% over the month, residential starts ticked down 0.3%, and nonbuilding improved by 5.5%. On a year-to-date basis, total construction starts were up 14.3% through September. Nonresidential starts were up…
U.S. retail construction activity pulled back in the third quarter of 2026, according to data from CoStar, the leading global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. In Q3 2026, roughly 58.3 million square feet of retail space was under construction in the U.S., down from 60.6 million square…
DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand renowned for relentless innovation on the jobsite, today announced that DALE, its autonomous downward drilling robot developed in collaboration with global mobile robotics leader August Robotics, has been named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 list in the Robotics category. Nominated and evaluated by TIME editors and correspondents…
Unanet, the leader in AI-first ERP and growth software for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms, will be on the ground at several AEC conferences this fall, including sessions led by Unanet subject matter experts. As an AI-first company, Unanet continues to build innovation around how project-driven organizations work, but also values time spent face-to-face with customers,…
Federal workplace-safety inspections are running roughly 8% ahead of last year’s pace, and construction sites now account for about a third of all federal inspections, according to enforcement figures published this year. Penalties have climbed alongside the inspection count: a serious violation now carries a fine of $16,550, and a willful or repeat violation can…
Carolinas AGC is excited to announce the 2026 Carolinas AGC Foundation Scholarship winners. The scholarship program was put into place to assist individuals studying for careers in the construction industry as well as those wishing to advance their skills and knowledge to further their construction careers. This year, the Scholarship committee distributed $20,000 to 13 very deserving…
Nearly two-thirds of industrial professionals surveyed say fewer than one in 20 frontline workers files a hazard, near-miss or safety report each month, or that their site doesn’t track it. The Frontline Risk Study 2026, released today by Teamforce AI, also found sites with corrective-action (CAPA) software were as likely as sites without it to…
Fort Hill LogiX, the patent-pending payment application review platform built by Fort Hill Associates, now operates as a separate company and is open to owners of capital projects and the advisory teams that work for them. LogiX was developed from the construction audit programs of Fort Hill Associates and continues to draw on Fort Hill’s…
CarolinaPower, a leading regional electrical contractor with offices in South Carolina, recently showcased electrical contracting to high school students enrolled in the Building Construction Technology program at the Donaldson Career Center at SCTAC – part of Greenville County Schools in the Upstate region. CarolinaPower team members Chris Traugh, Paul Yanovskiy, David Steffens, Gage Schatz, and…
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to redefine how we learn and work, DeVry University today announced it will embed AI literacy and skill-building into every course by the end of 2026. This commitment expands access for every student to develop the technical proficiency and applied fluency needed to succeed in an AI-augmented workforce. “Innovation is a foundational element of…
