Milford, Massachusetts-based Consigli Construction is growing its presence south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The contractor announced this month that it will expand operations into Raleigh, North Carolina, under the leadership of two new executives brought in from other construction firms.

The company said it will grow and develop its presence in the academic, life sciences, healthcare, office and residential/mixed-use markets in the region.

Director of Operations John Blakey will oversee business operations in North Carolina. He joins Consigli after nearly 30 years of construction experience, most with Lendlease, according to his LinkedIn profile. Blakey most recently served as the Australian-based contractor’s senior vice president of Department of Defense construction in the U.S.

Director of Project Development Michael Benson’s background includes stints at both Turner and Gilbane as project manager or project executive, based on his LinkedIn profile. He has worked in healthcare, life sciences and data center markets in Raleigh, according to the release. In his current role, he’ll lead business development, estimating and pre-construction efforts in the region. 

Consigli has offices throughout New England and New York and one in the Caribbean. 

The contractor’s presence in the state could indicate a trend. Earlier this month, Maryland-based Harkins Construction announced it had opened a new office in Durham to aid with the expansion of the $275 million of work in place it had in the region. 

In 2020, North Carolina’s population had grown 9.5% when compared to a decade before, the 6th largest increase in the U.S., which made it the 15th fastest-growing state in the country, according to the U.S. Census.