Designing for Resiliency: Introducing Flexible Design into Our Built Environment
There is a concept in architecture that continually speaks to me. I’ve seen its absence create constraints, added costs and sometimes an unnecessary plan for new construction or demolition. Its presence, on the other hand, reimagines the built environment as dynamic, easily and proficiently adapting to change. I’m talking about flexible architecture, which is often…
The 2023 Economy: Taking a Look at the World, the Nation, and the Carolinas
With 2023’s first month behind us and more 2022 data in hand, this is a good time to look closer at the year just ended and consider images now forming for the year ahead. An assessment of the world situation by the global consultancy PwC presented a few weeks ago at the Davos World Economic…
Balfour Beatty Awarded $242.35 Million Design-Build Contract by North Carolina Department of Transportation
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded Balfour Beatty a $242.35 million design-build contract to deliver improvements to Interstate U.S. 70 between the Havelock Bypass and east of Thurman Road in Craven County. The project will upgrade the 6.4-mile section of U.S. 70 to improve mobility and military interconnectivity, support economic development and increase…
Boom Supersonic Begins Construction on Overture Superfactory
Boom is joined by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Senate Leader Phil Berger at groundbreaking event in Greensboro, NC Boom Supersonic, the company building the world’s fastest airliner, kicked off construction of its Overture Superfactory today in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Overture Superfactory is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located on a 62-acre campus at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. This site will…
Architecture Billings Continue to Decline
Demand for design services from U.S. architecture firms continued to contract in December, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The pace of decline during December slowed from November, posting an Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 47.5 from 46.6 (any score below 50 indicates a decline in firm billings)….
What Construction Firms Need to Know about ESG
While the environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement started with institutions and financial firms, it has become increasingly relevant for the construction industry. Many project owners and financiers are now requiring construction companies to report on ESG measures because activities completed by contractors are considered part of the owner’s value chain and must therefore be…
Business Facilities Names North Carolina ‘State of the Year’
North Carolina has been named 2022 State of the Year by Business Facilities for the state’s successful year in project announcements, capital investment and job creation. This is the second time North Carolina has been awarded this accolade since 2007 when the magazine’s highest state honor began. The state previously won in 2020. “A succinct…
Tomorrow May Never Come
None of us knows how much time we have, so don’t put off making the changes you need to make in your life. On January 6, my wife and I spent about an hour and a half in the office of our friend and insurance agent, Brant Barnes, talking about flying (he became a pilot…
Harper General Contractors President David Wise on Building Trust in the Carolinas
Grounded in a culture of trust and community and 73 years of experience, Harper General Contractors has grown into an almost 300-employee company, with offices spread across North and South Carolina. Harper is a full-service general contracting and construction management firm with a very distinct and enduring philosophy: “Do what you say you’re going to…
What to Look for in a Building Automation System Dashboard
My dream car is a ’69 Z/28 Camaro. The dashboard was a big reason. It had a big MPH dial on the left, a big RPM dial on the right and a clock stuck in the middle. Mounted below were alarm lights to show if something malfunctioned. Then there were 4 more gauges on the…
