The bigger they are: those for nonprofits and the public sector dominate our list of priciest construction projects.

HOW THE LIST WAS DONE BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA surveyed general contractors it ranked as the 25 largest for their revenue in the state in the year ended June 30, 2012, ("The Last One Out," November 2012) to find the most expensive projects they completed in the 12 months since. Transportation jobs were not included.

1. Duke Medicine Pavilion

   Expansion of Duke University Hospital

   Value: $271.9 million

   Square feet: 680,000

   City: Durham

   Builder: KBR Building Group LLC, Charlotte

2. Central Prison

   Regional medical and mental-health centers additions

   Value: $157.1 million

   Square feet: 339,000

   City: Raleigh

   Builder: Balfour Beatty Construction LLC, Dallas

3. Wake County Justice Center

   Courtrooms and government offices

   Value: $152.6 million

   Square feet: 562,756

   City: Raleigh

   Builder: Balfour and Barnhill Contracting Co., Tarboro

4. Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville

   Patient tower and maternity and surgery centers additions

   Value: $100.8 million

   Square feet: 380,000

   City: Pineville

   Builder: KBR Building

5. James B. Hunt Library

   N.C. State University

   Value: $92.9 million

   Square feet: 220,000

   City: Raleigh

   Builder: Skanska USA Building Inc., Parsippany, N.J.

6. Gragg and Woodward buildings

   Offices and parking decks

   Value: $61.0 million

   Square feet: 1.5 million

   City: Charlotte

   Builder: Rodgers Builders Inc., Charlotte

7. Appalachian State University Center for Student Leadership

   Student residence and study rooms

   Value: $57.1 million

   Square feet: 52,500

   City: Boone

   Builder: Balfour

8. East Carolina University School of Dentistry

   Clinics, lecture halls and student labs

   Value: $50.4 million

   Square feet: 122.000

   City: Greenville

   Builder: Balfour

9. UNC Greensboro Quad

   Renovation of seven student residences

   Value: 549.4 million

   Square feet: 250,000

   City: Greensboro

   Builder: Balfour and D.H. Griffin, Raleigh

10. Duke University Learning Center

    Undergraduate medical-education building

    Value: $40.4 million

    Square feet: 80,000

    City: Durham

    Builder: Balfour

11. UNC Charlotte football complex

    Jerry Richardson Stadium, field house and 10 additional buildings

    Value: $40.0 million

    Square feet: 96,000 (plus 15,314-seat stadium)

    City: Charlotte

    Builder: Rodgers Builders

12. Catawba Valley Medical Center

    Cancer-treatment and birthing centers additions

    Value: $39.0 million

    Square feet: 81,367

    City: Hickory

    Builder: Rodgers Builders

13. Maynard Children's Hospital at Vidant Medical Center

    Pediatric ambulatory and immunosuppressed units

    Value: $34.0 million

    Square feet: 90,000

    City...