The first snapshot of construction activity in metropolitan Kansas City for 2013 from McGraw-Hill Construction paints a sharply diverging picture of residential work booming and commercial activity in decline.

The January report from the trade publication said there was $134.4 million in contracts for future residential construction in the area, up 130.7 percent from January 2012. Non-residential construction. however, fell 42 percent from last year to $46.3 million.

Area homebuilders have reported more activity so far this year. Earlier this week, the Greater Kansas City Home Builders Association said single-family permits were up 34.3 percent through February, the best start since 2008 and the 14th consecutive month of improvement.

In the meantime, work on the project that fueled a large portion of the area’s non-residential construction work the past couple of years, the new National Security Campus being built in south Kansas City at a cost of $443 million for the Honeywell nuclear weapon parts operation, has been completed.

McGraw-Hill defines residential construction as one- and two-family houses and apartments. Non-residential includes hotels and commercial, manufacturing, educational and religious buildings.