Cognitive Submission: Why Contractors Can’t Outsource Their Judgment to AI
“Cognitive Submission” describes humans who defer their own reasoning, judgment, and analytical effort to an AI system rather than engaging critically with it. I am as enamored with AI as anyone. In fact, I look forward to the day when I no longer marvel at how it shapes my ideas, documents, spreadsheets, and graphics into…
Built From Within, Growing Through Leadership
Smart company growth is often the result of strong strategic vision, time-tested and proven relationships, and capable leaders ready to build what comes next. For Harper General Contractors, a full-service general contracting and construction management firm serving the Southeast, the last several years have consisted of meaningful expansion across market sectors, services, and regions. As…
What America’s Best Construction Projects Have in Common
Every contractor says they build quality projects. Every owner expects projects to finish safely, on schedule, and within budget. Yet anyone who has spent time in the construction industry knows those outcomes are far from guaranteed. So what separates exceptional projects from merely successful ones? Michael Bellaman, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and…
Schedule Certainty Driving Construction Decisions as Market Pressures Shift
Contractor’s Q2 2026 Market Conditions Report shows how project owners across sectors are seeking clarity on cost, schedule, labor, power and procurement to shape decisions Market pressures are changing how construction projects are planned, prioritized and delivered across industries, according to the latest Market Conditions Report from DPR Construction, one of the nation’s top technical builders. The key…
Through the Eyes of an Intern
In mid-May, CarolinaPower’s Columbia office welcomed back Clemson University student Salma Natsheh for a second summer internship with our company. A rising sophomore, Salma is majoring in Electrical Engineering at Clemson with a minor in Architecture. Passionate about the technology side of electrical construction, Salma aspires to work in Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) and…
The Economy at Mid-year: Some Good News and Bad News
On June 25, the U.S. Department of Commerce delivered good news and bad news all in the same day. The good news came with an upward revision for first quarter 2026 real GDP growth. The final estimate rose from 1.6% To 2.1%. Once again, we are back running in the twos. (Recent real GDP growth…
Full-Circle Moment: NC State CCEE Graduates Renovate Former Classroom Building
Less than 10 years after graduating from NC State’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering (CCEE), two alumni are back on campus to renovate a building that holds many memories for them. In the summer of 2025, a large-scale renovation process began at Mann Hall. Named after alumnus and former Head of the Department…
Why Meta and Google are Betting on Skilled Trades
For decades, workforce development followed a fairly predictable model. Construction industry workforce programs focused on developing the skilled trades needed to build projects. Manufacturers invested in training programs designed to prepare workers to operate facilities once they opened. Utilities trained the technicians needed to maintain power systems. Each sector largely developed talent pipelines aligned with…
America 250: Built by Builders
The Hands That Built America As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we naturally think about the founders, the soldiers, the presidents, and the moments that shaped our nation. We should. But we should also remember the builders. Long before skylines defined our cities, someone cleared the land. Someone surveyed the route. Someone quarried the stone….
Building More Than Places: The Role of Community Impact at SW+
At its core, the AEC industry isn’t actually about blueprints or permits; it’s about people. Whether we’re collaborating with clients or engaging with neighbors, true success often comes down to human connection. That’s why community engagement has always been a natural extension of SeamonWhiteside’s (SW+) work across the Carolinas. As a site design firm, we…
