Southwest City Scoop: Construction Starts in Phoenix

Construction Starts Expected to Rise 9% in 2018, Rebounding From Last Year’s Decline

Highways and bridges and environmental public works are forecast to post healthy growth.

City Grill

Chris Camacho
President and CEO
Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The Phoenix metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing regions for jobs and economic activity, Camacho says, adding that in the past 18 months, manufacturing construction activity has overtaken office space construction. Overall, the area’s construction market has rebounded from the recession, he says, but the local economy will likely be less dependent on construction for future jobs. “We were overreliant on construction for our economy. It is more sustainable today as compared to boom-and-bust cycles,” he says.

Firm in Focus

Okland Construction
1700 N. McClintock Drive, Tempe, Ariz.
President: Bill Okland
Founded: 1918
What’s new: The firm is working on the Watermark Office Tower—a mixed-use facility in Tempe, Ariz.—as well as the Greek Leadership Village at Arizona State University, also in Tempe.