The impact of the recession continued to sting contractors in 2011. The unsettled market shows some contractors experiencing a rebound while others still suffer. Combined regional revenue for the Top 10 contractors fell to $8.3 billion, down from $8.6 billion in 2010 and $9.4 billion in 2009. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record The makeup of this year's Top 10 offers a good snapshot of the market, as many firms with industrial, petrochemical and power work saw improvement while those focused on the traditional commercial and institutional sectors fell back. Turner Industries, Baton Rouge, remains on top with $1.78
The holidays came early for riders of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail system. DART opened the first 5.4-mile phase of its new Orange Line in July—five months ahead of schedule. Nine miles of the 14-mile project were set to be completed in December, but the design-build team—in DART's first use of the approach—rallied for an early delivery. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record The opening coincided with the 15th Annual Transportation & Infrastructure Summit and 5th Annual Global High-Speed Rail Forum held at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas on Aug. 14-17. The new section includes
Richard W. Galloway was named senior vice president of the water and environment (W&E) group at Atkins. He had been vice president of federal business development and planning director at CH2M Hill. Galloway has 35 years of professional experience as a consultant and contractor to government agencies and private-sector clients. In his new role, he will develop strategies for Atkins' W&E Group in the Texas area and across the country. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Arthur Stoddart has been named executive vice president of GL Noble Denton's operations in the Americas, which are based in Houston. He previously
While Cajun Industries helped rebuild Louisiana in the years following Katrina, the work also has enabled the Baton Rouge-based contractor to strengthen its own foundations for the future. Traditionally regarded as a civil contractor with expertise in specialties such as foundation and concrete work, Cajun Industries now is a formidable player in the region, this year cracking the Top 10 of ENR Texas and Louisiana's Top Contractors list for the first time. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Through the recession, the company capitalized on unprecedented opportunities in both the public and private sectors. A combination of work with
A new permit by rule recently approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality could lead more commercial and industrial facilities to use combined heat and power (CHP) technologies for their power needs. Photo courtesy The Methodist Hospital The Methodist Hospital in Houston is host to a rooftop 4.5 MW combined heat and power unit, shown here. Existing permitting regulations state that a CHP system – regardless of building site or its megawatt capacity – falls under the strict rules for electric generating units, requiring a permit that critics say is very restrictive on emissions.“So even if you were putting
In light of recent drought, calls for construction of additional desalination plants are gaining traction. Earlier this month, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson’s office announced that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) is exploring the potential of a desalination project that would turn some of Texas’ abundant brackish groundwater into finished drinking water on a 2,000-acre tract of land along Interstate 35, between Austin and San Antonio. North Cameron Regional Water Authority North Cameron Regional Water Authoritys brackish water desalination facility in Harlingen, Texas. The plant was built in 2007 and has a capacity of 2.25 million gallons per day.
As officials in North Carolina prepare to widen their probe into utility Duke Energy’s surprise ouster of its just-named CEO, officials there and in Florida are giving increased scrutiny to a problem-laden repair of the now-idled Crystal River nuclear powerplant owned by acquired utility Progress Energy as a factor in the boardroom coup. Photo courtesy Duke Energy Officials in North Carolina want to know more about the repair issues at the Crystal River nuclear powerplant project in Citrus County, Fla. Related Links: Florida, Progress Energy Reach Fix Plan for Crystal River Costly Blunders at Progress Energy's Crystal River Nuke Plant
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the cause of a fatal tower crane collapse at the University of Texas at Dallas campus in Richardson on July 7, but experts familiar with the accident are already pointing to problems with the dismantling process. Related Links: PHOTO: Dallas Morning News Coverage of Collapse VIDEO: WFAA Coverage of Collapse Crews at the site of the new $60-million Arts and Technology Building being built on the campus were disassembling the crane when it collapsed, killing two workers. The workers were Thomas Fairbrother Jr., 58, of Austin and Terry Weaver, 50, of
An elevated Tampa toll road with 23 spans, a tangle of flyovers and unexpected foundation issues is challenging the project team, while it is also revealing the limitations of contractor-obtained financing. The 65%-complete job, currently estimated at $412 million, instead of the original $389 million, is now expected to finish up next fall, or about six months later than originally planned. Related Links: Interstate 4/Selmon Connector Moves Ahead With Stimulus Funds PCL: ENR Southeast's 2011 Contractor of the Year Designed to boost the Port of Tampa, the 12-lane Tampa Interstate 4/Selmon Expressway Connector involves constructing a 1.1-mile north-south toll road
Numerous construction markets began to show signs of rebirth during 2011, and a considerable number of opportunistic and well-positioned Southeast contractors were able to start clawing back revenue previously lost during the recession. But it wasn't all good news, as ENR Southeast's annual Top Contractors ranking also reveals that while the seeds of recovery may have been sown for some in the past year, a broad-based resurgence remains elusive. Rendering courtesy of Hardin Construction Co. Housing markets are coming back in Florida. In Tampa, Hardin Construction is preparing to begin work on the Ella @ Encore apartment complex, part of
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