Southeast City Scoop: Orlando Construction Starts
After a sharp drop in 2018, Orlando contracts should increase in 2019
Williams Co. recently completed this Super Target store in southwest Orlando.
PHOTO BY BEN TANNER PHOTOGRAPHY
DPR’s Orlando office is leading construction of one of the city’s largest building projects, the KPMG’s $450-million Learning, Development and Innovation Facility.
IMAGE COURTESY DPR CONSTRUCTION
City Grill
Bob Lipscomb
CEO
Williams Co.
As is the case in other Southeast cities, Orlando construction activity remains strong across both private and public markets, says Lipscomb. Public investment in such massive projects as the Orlando International Airport’s expansion and the ongoing, $2.3-billion I-4 Ultimate project are boosting the area’s job growth, he says. “As a result,” Lipscomb adds, contractors—like Williams Co.—are seeing “abundant work, particularly in key areas of specialty such as retail, commercial, theme park, senior living, industrial and educational markets,” among others.
The Orlando-based contractor recently completed the first phase of the 450,000-sq-ft Vineland Pointe retail center in Orlando, for instance. Construction related to the area’s well-known theme parks remains a perennially strong driver of major construction projects. In fact, Williams’ most recent construction start involves LEGOLAND’s latest addition, the five-story, 150-room Pirate Island Hotel, announced in January. That project award came as Williams is wrapping up construction of LEGOLAND’s LEGO Movie World, scheduled to open March 27. “Given interest rates remaining steady, all signs point to a year of continued strength market-wide, and with it, a sense of cautious optimism,” Lipscomb says.
Firm in Focus
DPR Construction
315 E. Robinson St., Orlando
Orlando Business Unit Leader: Scott Lyons
Employees (Southeast): 270
Founded: 1990
Corporate Campus Project: DPR’s Orlando office is leading construction of one of the city’s largest building projects, the KPMG’s $450-million Learning, Development and Innovation Facility. Located in the Lake Nona Sports and Performance district, the 767,000-sq-ft campus—spread across 55 acres—will feature 800 guest rooms, fitness and outdoor recreational facilities, food and beverage venues, learning and classroom spaces as well as a “heritage center” highlighting KPMG’s history and culture. The project, designed by Gensler, is expected to be completed
