NAOIP: Office Space Demand Forecast, Fourth Quarter 2025
Office Market at Pivotal ‘Normalization’ Point as Macroeconomic Factors Weigh on Economy Nationwide demand for office space experienced a large shift in momentum in the third quarter, with demand growing by 19.8 million square feet compared with negative net absorption of 14.9 million square feet in the second quarter. Although the most recent quarter was…
CarolinaPower Leaders Reflect on 25 Years in Business
It was the late 1990s when Georgia-based MetroPower decided to launch an out-of-state branch in Greenville, SC – doing business as (dba) CarolinaPower. The challenge at hand for the start-up: breaking into an established construction market with zero name recognition and minimal resources. Fast-forward 25 years and CarolinaPower has four offices across South Carolina –…
From Boom and Pause to Balanced Growth: What’s Next for the Southeast Industrial Market
After several years defined by extremes, the Southeast industrial market is showing signs of shifting toward steadier footing in 2026. The post-pandemic boom of 2021–2022 created record construction and aggressive speculative development. That momentum slowed noticeably in 2023–2024, when rising costs, tighter financing and pockets of oversupply pushed many developers to pause and reassess. Now,…
The Economic Situation and What Lies Ahead
With the books for 2025 ready to be closed and knuckles still white from the roller coaster ride generated by President Trump’s first year policy actions, and all this compounded by war, terrorist attacks, and a recovering post-COVID world, I begin this report with a summary forecast for the next four quarters. I offer thoughts…
Results of 2025 ASC Region 2 Student Competitions
Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 2 recently held its annual Student Competitions. Region 2 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico and has seen significant growth in the annual competitions. Over 300 students on 49 teams from 18 universities competed in seven different competitions. Each competition category was…
Toyota Charges into U.S. Battery Manufacturing
Toyota supercharged its multi-pathway approach to global vehicle electrification with the highly anticipated start of production at its all-new battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina. It is Toyota’s eleventh U.S. plant and the company’s first and only battery plant outside of Japan. The nearly $14 billion facility will create up to 5,100 new American jobs….
CoStar Maintains U.S. Retail Projections Through 2026
U.S. retail projections have not changed materially compared to July, according to a revised forecast from CoStar, the leading global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. Following positive demand and a slowdown in store closures during the third quarter of 2025, the near-term U.S. retail outlook remains unchanged from the…
Rebuilding Together: Harper General Contractor’s Commitment to Western North Carolina
Reflecting on the past year, we are reminded of the importance of building up our communities. When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in September of 2024, many of our projects and clients were immediately impacted. In the Town of Burnsville, the hurricane caused a significant infrastructure failure, leaving the town’s water system crippled. Floodwater…
5 Strategies for Superior Industrial Construction Projects
We are always thinking about what our customers want and need. With industrial construction projects, the solution is sometimes highly complex, like installation of seven, 30-ton test benches for ZF Gray Court or the sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives that we designed for MÜNZING’s newest manufacturing facility. The idea behind the solution, however, begins with…
ABC Carolinas Unveils 2025 Project of the Year Winners for General & Specialty Contractor
ABC Carolinas was thrilled to celebrate the outstanding contributions of its members at the 2025 Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards gala held in Charlotte on November 6, 2025. Awards for first place (Eagle) and runner-up (Merit) were given out in various categories across two divisions: General Contractors and Specialty Contractors, as well as the exclusive…
