Client Confidence

The Beck Group, Dallas, also jumped in the ranking, rising to No. 11 this year from No. 23 last year. The firm's $513 million in regional revenue is its highest tally since before the recession. CEO Fred Perpall says the firm has seen continued strength in higher education and health care. Last year, its largest project to break ground was the $120-million Southern Methodist University Residential Commons in Dallas.

Perpall notes that many clients are showing more confidence about the federal health care bill, monetary policy and the general economy since the 2012 presidential election in November.

"There was uncertainty leading up to the election and people lacked confidence," he says. "When people lack confidence they don't do anything. It's not that they didn't have strong balance sheets; they just didn't know what would happen after the election. Now, we see a lot of people getting on with it."

The Beck Group also banks on its integrated design-build services to boost business. The strategy has been particularly effective in the religious sector. The firm completed the $12-million Midland Bible Church in Midland, Texas, in December and is currently building two other churches in West Texas.

Perpall says The Beck Group is seeing a 45% increase in backlog this year compared with 2012. While business is improving, he says the company is reinvesting in its resources to help manage growth. "A lot of the gravy will fall to the bottom line in 2014," he says.

Michael Freberg, vice president at Brasfield & Gorrie, Dallas, says that while the firm also sees new business that will be reflected in 2014 revenue, it is keeping the company's size in check.

"Project sizes may go up from $10 million to $20 million or 100,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet, but that doesn't necessarily require a major increase in manpower," he says. "We can often still build those within the same time frame, so there isn't a big need to hire more."

Last year, the company's largest project to break ground was the $111-million Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels, Texas. Although it is a greenfield project, Freberg sees few other large hospital projects on the horizon. Instead, the company is eyeing additions, expansions and smaller outpatient surgical centers. Next year, Brasfield & Gorrie is set to break ground on an expansion of HCA's Medical City Dallas campus.

Louisiana Rising