Texas Construction Top Projects

Ninth Annual List Ranks $2.88 Billion in Projects

Highway and institutional building dominated this year's ranking of the top projects in Texas, but the top spot went to the new Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in San Antonio.

By Eileen Schwartz

Texas Construction presents its ninth annual list of the state's top construction projects, a ranking by contract value of the top 25 projects that broke ground during 2003.

After compiling a preliminary list, we followed up with contractors, architects and owners for the latest information on their projects. Every effort was made to obtain accurate and complete project information, including verification with owners and general contractors.

The 25 projects, each valued at $40 million or more, represent approximately $2.88 billion in contract values. That amount is nearly $200 million more than what was reported last year, despite the fact that the 2002 list included only projects valued at $50 million or more. Moreover, 2003's largest project is approximately $500 million more than the previous year's biggest.
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The latest list shows that, once again, the Texas construction industry has been robust in the face of tough economic times.
Projects on the latest list represent nearly every aspect of the state's vital commercial-building industry, from highway and manufacturing to health care and education.

Topping the rankings is the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant, the sixth North American production base and the first in Texas, which broke ground in October in San Antonio. In a time when many manufacturing companies are shifting their production facilities overseas and across borders, the plant is a welcome addition to the Texas workforce.

Valued at more than $800 million, the facility is expected to bring 2,000 new jobs to the Alamo City. In addition, several automotive suppliers recently announced that they will set up operations on the site of the new plant, adding an additional 1,000 jobs. Supplier investments will add up to at least $100 million in building and equipment.

"The announcement is great news, not just for San Antonio but for all of Texas," Gov. Rick Perry said when he joined Toyota officials in making the announcement on March 25. "Toyota and its suppliers are bringing thousands of new jobs to Texas and investing millions in our economy."

SSOE Inc. of Toledo, Ohio, was selected as the lead design firm in partnership with San Antonio-based Marmon Mok for the Toyota plant. The first major construction package for the plant was awarded to San Antonio-based Olmos Equipment Inc. The company is currenty working to complete site preparation by the end of summer.

In the meantime, several joint-venture partnerships have sprung up to vie for construction services. One is the Dallas office of Kajima Construction Services Inc., which has teamed with San Antonio-based Browning Construction Co.

Highway building continues to be one of the driving forces in the state's market. Second on this year's list is the largest single contract ever let by TxDOT for the reconstruction of the IH-10/IH-610 interchange, a $263 million project that was awarded to Houston-based Williams Brothers Construction.

RadioShack Corp. and Pier 1 Imports Inc. both began building new corporate headquarters in Dallas, which came in third and fourth with contract values of $200 million and $145 million, respectively. The Beck Group is building the RadioShack

Riverfront Campus, while the teamwork of Thos. S. Byrne and Manhattan construction is wrapping up Pier 1's new headquarters.

Rounding out the top five is the replacement of the IH-45 bridge over Galveston Bay, a TxDOT contract awarded to Traylor Brothers Inc. for $136 million.

Despite the total dollar volume on this year's list, the top projects can't represent the entire state's highest-dollar-value projects. The magazine's list is dependent solely upon participation of the owners and general contractors of the projects listed.

Top 25 Projects>>