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2012 Top Starts In texas & louisiana Rank Project/ Location Project Cost ($ Mil.) Start Date/ End Date Owner General Contractorconstruction managerarchitect1Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project (LNG)Cameron, La.$4,750Aug. 2012 2015/2016Owner Cheniere Energy Inc.GC Bechtel Corp.2Keystone Gulf Coast ExpansionCushing, Okla., to Nederland, Texas$2,300Aug. 2012 Late 2013Owner TransCanada Ltd.GC Michels Corp.3University Medical CenterNew Orleans, La.$1,200Jan. 2012 Dec. 2014Owner State of Louisiana Division of Administration Facility Planning and ControlCM Skanska/MAPP, a joint ventureArchitect Blitch Knevel & NBBJ, a joint venture4Entergy Ninemile Point Plant Generation Unit ExpansionWestwego, La.$721July 2012 Mid-2015Owner Entergy Corp.GC The Shaw Group5Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Unit (Design/Build)Horseshoe Bay, Texas$500May 2012Summer 2014Owner Lower

As of April 20, it's been three years exactly since BP's Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 and pouring some 5 million barrels of oil into the sea. Related Links: The Ocean Conservancy Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Coast Builders Coalition Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC Some coastal restoration and protection work has occurred since the 2010 disaster, funded by initial payouts from the oil giant and other responsible parties. But plenty of work has yet to be done, with potential opportunity for engineering and construction firms in the Gulf Coast

With natural gas production continuing to gain momentum, the oil and gas industry is fueling major construction work in the region. The total cost of the top 25 projects that broke ground in the region in 2012 was $13.2 billion, a $1.1-billion increase over the previous year, according to ENR Texas & Louisiana's Top Starts list. Megaprojects in the oil and gas, petrochemical and energy sectors provided the big boost to this year's list. Analysts believe these projects are just the first swell of a huge wave of future work. Related Links: Top Project Starts of 2012 Liquid Gold The

Nearly 11% of the nation's animal fat waste, used cooking oil and other discarded grease streams will be turned into renewable diesel fuel when work is completed on the $368-million Diamond Green Diesel facility now under way in Norco, La., near New Orleans. The biomass project will nearly triple the amount of renewable diesel produced domestically, according to the U.S. Energy Dept., and may be the first of several such innovative technology projects planned in the state. Related Links: Valero Diamond Green Diesel The project, a joint venture between independent oil refiner Valero Energy Corp. and animal rendering and food

Robert A. Bedrich has been promoted to vice president and division manager of Cadence McShane Construction Co. in BEDRICHHouston. He had served as project executive at Skanska USA Building. Robert A. Bedrich, vice president and division manager of Cadence McShane Construction Co. Related Links: Engineering News Record Morrissey Goodale LLC, the AEC sector management consulting and research company, has named Neil Churman as principal consultant and head of its new Houston office, the firm's first Texas location. He was formerly corporate development associate at engineer Michael Baker Corp., Moon Township, Pa.The Beck Group has elevated Paul Higgins to chief operating

Work has commenced on the $14 million construction and historic renovation project at the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy. The project involves the conversion of two century-old buildings and the creation of a new building for a state charter school. Courtesy of Woodward Design+Build A rendering of the $14 million construction and historic renovation project at the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy. Related Links: Woodward Design+Build HRI Properties The project is being led by Woodward Design+Build and HRI Properties. Woodward senior project manager Bob Lipscomb says the two existing buildings were originally constructed in 1907 by the Navy

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started work on a $44.8 million project to construct 5,000 feet of underground drainage canal in central New Orleans. Related Links: Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project Cajun Constructors The 38-month contract is being performed by Louisiana-based Cajun Constructors. It is part of the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (SELA), which is designed to reduce the risk of flooding from a 10-year rainfall event.
A licensed arborist has commenced tree removal along the medians and pathways. Cajun Constructors will build 3,700 feet of underground drainage canal along Jefferson Avenue and 1,300 feet of

Sundt Construction Inc., along with partners URS Corp. and Civil Engineering Consultants (CEC), were selected as the design-build team for the City of San Antonio’s $62 million Hausman Road project. This is the city’s first-ever design-build road improvement project. Related Links: Sundt Construction Inc. URS Corp. Civil Engineering Consultants “Schedule was one of the big factors in going design build for this project. They City of San Antonio traditionally utilized design-bid-build delivery method. This would have added a year or more to the completion of the project. The city also recognizes this is a high visibility project with a lot

Some new specialty material production units under Dow Chemical Co.’s Performance Plastics franchise are coming to the Gulf Coast. Related Links: Dow Chemical Co. The company has announced that over the next five to seven years, these projects along with others included in its U.S. Gulf Coast investment plan, will support more than 35,000 jobs. Collectively, Dow expects the new Performance Plastics facilities will employ up to 3,000 workers at peak construction.“Dow is currently exploring specific locations on the U.S. Gulf Coast, with final investment locations to be determined at a later date,” says Dow spokesperson Nancy Lamb. “We have