Major construction projects taking shape in NWI

Commercial construction has been rebounding as a growing number of projects get underway in Northwest Indiana.

Nationally, construction grew to about $930 million in December, a 5.3 percent improvement over December 2012, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Nonresidential construction surpassed $311 million in December, the second highest it has been in the last five years though a slight decrease from December 2012.

In Northwest Indiana, construction deliveries grew to their highest level since 2008, according to the commercial real estate firm NAI Hiffman. About 205,000 square feet of new commercial space was added in the last three months of the year. Hanson Logistics added 90,000 square feet onto its Hobart facility, and Dawn Foods finished a new 125,000-square-foot building at Merrillville's AmeriPlex at the Crossroads Business Park.

Hasse Construction President William Hasse III said commercial construction is looking up even after the end of the $4.2 billion BP Whiting modernization project because of pent-up demand, low inflation and low interest rates. Overall construction activity, excluding home building, is projected to rise by 6 percent in 2014.

"It's dramatically up compared to the last five years and it continues to grow," Hasse said.

An additional 548,228 square feet is now under construction in Northwest Indiana, according to NAI Hiffman's year-end report. Work began on a 123,000-square-foot facility for Munster Steel at Hammond's West Point Industrial Park, and on a 25,000-square-foot facility for Aunt Millie's Bakeries in Merrillville.

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Major construction projects taking shape in NWI