"It's a stable market, moving toward a strong market," Comeaux says. The Houma, La.-based company was ranked No. 27 on this year's list, based on 2012 revenue of $38.5 million. Its largest current project is a $2-million design contract for the planned $85-million Bayou Chene Backwater Flood Protection project in Morgan City, La.

Houston Heats Up

The oil and gas boom continues to have an echo effect on design work in Houston. Papes says that AECOM repositioned its office there to better prepare for future opportunities. "We have expanded our presence there in response to the significant market potential and have multidiscipline capabilities to service Houston clients locally," he says.

Among the company's largest current projects in the region is a $46-million design for the Houston Stormwater Management Program.

"Houston is the most robust market primarily due to the energy industry but also because of civic leadership and the high quality of living," says James Furr, managing principal for Gensler's Houston office. Notable building projects include designs for a 34-story Capitol Tower, which will replace the Houston Club building. The firm is also designing a renovation of an historic Houston downtown office tower into a JW Marriott hotel and is also working on numerous charter school campuses across the city. Outside of the city, Gensler's Anadarko Woodloch Tower in The Woodlands broke ground last year.

Furr notes that the vibrant market in Houston is pushing clients to rethink their spaces.

"All of our energy-sector clients are focused on recruiting and retaining top talent," he adds. "To do this, they are looking at additional ways to enhance their workplaces."

Uncertain Building Market

Gensler's Houston work helped the region's top-ranked design firm for general building log $111.63 in regional revenue in 2012—up from $105 million in 2011. "We saw a little softening at the end of 2012," Furr adds, "but we have rebounded since then."

While he sees definite bright spots in the general building sector, Dan Noble, executive vice president and director of design for HKS, Dallas, describes it as an "unpredictable market" that hasn't completely rebounded.

"It wants to be stable, but can't quite get over the hump," he says. "Things are better than they were a few years ago, but after five years of slowed design activity, you'd think the demand might be more robust," he says.

Still, HKS was able to improve its 2012 regional revenue to $58.6 million, up from the $45.56 million it reported in 2011, based on projects such as the $85-million Baylor Medical Center of Waxahachie, which broke ground last year.