Embarking on a construction project is always an intricate dance of planning, execution, and adaptation. When Upstate South Carolina’s Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) chose the team of DP3 Architects and Harper General Contractors to lead the design and construction of the complex and exciting renovation of Oconee Hall on the school’s Pendleton Campus, our team…
Business
New Changes to American Arbitration Association (AAA) Construction Rules
Many construction contracts, especially on private projects, contain alternative dispute resolution provisions. These provisions often incorporate the Construction Industry Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). These Rules and Procedures were revised effective March 1, 2024. Among the changes are the following: It is important for those engaged in the construction industry…
FMI 2024 North American Engineering and Construction Overview: Second Quarter
FMI recently released their 2024 North American Engineering and Construction Overview: Second Quarter. According to the Outlook, engineering and construction spending is expected to end 2024 up 5%, but not all sectors will be the same. Manufacturing, lodging, and highway and street look poised for double-digit growth while those in the multifamily and commercial sectors…
DOL’s Overtime Salary Level Threshold Increase Will Harm Small Businesses, Says ABC
Associated Builders and Contractors today issued the following statement opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule that will change overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The final rule increases the minimum annual salary level threshold for exemption in two phases: from the current level of $35,568 to $43,888 on July 1, 2024,…
ABC Denounces FTC’s Blanket Ban on Noncompete Clauses
Associated Builders and Contractors today issued the following statement opposing the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule to ban noncompete clauses. The FTC voted 3-2 to issue the final rule today. “The final rule to ban all noncompete agreements nationwide—except existing noncompetes for senior executives—is a radical departure from hundreds of years of legal precedent,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice…
Markets
USC Upstate breaks ground on $21M library addition
The University of South Carolina Upstate celebrated the groundbreaking of a $21 million library expansion on Thursday, April 4. The project is designed by Moseley Architects, and construction will be facilitated by Thompson Turner Construction. The project was approved by the USC Board of Trustees in December 2022. The addition marks the first time since 2009 that…
Forza X1, Inc. Updates Construction Progress on North Carolina Facility
Forza X1, Inc. (Nasdaq:FRZA) (“Forza,” the “Company”), a developer of electric sport boats aimed at promoting sustainable recreational boating, announced today most of the concrete for the 60,000 square foot floor has been poured and crews are scheduled to start setting steel this week at the site of the Company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located on…
CIRT Sentiment Index: First Quarter 2024
The Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) and FMI recently published the CIRT Sentiment Index for the First Quarter of 2024. CIRT members recorded much stronger optimism across index components, including sentiment toward the U.S. economy, the economy where members operate, members’ construction businesses and the nonresidential sector. The overall index score rose to 64.9 from…
Krystal Breaks Ground in North Carolina With New Design
Krystal Restaurants LLC, the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South, announces a strategic expansion into North Carolina, marking a pivotal step in the brand’s plans to expand across the United States. The new builds will boast a sleek and contemporary design and cater to consumers’ on-the-go dining desires. The location is projected to open…