The Southeast construction market remained very busy in 2023, even as contractors across the region continue to face the challenges of skilled labor shortages, rising interest rates interest and persistent supply chain issues.
The most active sectors included technical projects that required intensive MEP work and intensive team and supplier coordination, says Anthony Johnson, president of Clayco’s industrial business unit.
“The manufacturing sector saw significant activity with projects related to electric vehicles, automotive and semiconductors,” he says.
Three of the top five projects on this year’s Top Starts list include Wolfspeed’s John Palmour Silicon Carbide Manufacturing Center and the Hyundai/SK Battery Plant, both tied for the top spot at $2.5 billion. In third place, at $2 billion, is the Vinfast EV plant in North Carolina, for which Clayco is the general contractor.
The infrastructure projects include a $606 million Georgia Department of Transportation interstate project and a $595 million Florida Department of Transportation project. People moving to the region are also driving residential and mixed-use projects, which make up about a third of the projects on the list.
About the Ranking
The annual ENR Southeast Top Starts ranking catalogs the highest-value projects that started in the previous year, providing an overview of the most prominent industrial sectors in the Southeast. Data was drawn from the Dodge Construction Network and information provided by companies.
