Texas Construction's Top 25 Projects

Tenth Annual List Ranks $2.2 Billion in Public and Private Building Projects

By Eileen Schwartz

Health care and K-12 dominated this year’s ranking of the top projects in Texas, but the top spot went to the new Texas Instruments wafer-chip plant in Richardson.

Texas Construction presents its 10th annual list of the state's top public and private commercial building construction projects, a ranking by contract value of the top 25 projects that broke ground during 2004.

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. The magazine's list is dependent solely upon participation of the owners and general contractors of the projects listed.

The resulting ranking reflects a strong construction marketplace in Texas, with high-profile, high-dollar projects representing a variety of industry sectors.

The 25 projects, each valued at more than $40 million, represent approximately $2.2 billion in contract values. That's about $6 million less than the $2.88 billion reported last year. However, 2003's largest project was $800 million, approximately $600 million more than 2004's largest of $250 million.

Moreover, during 2003, six of the top 25 projects were highway construction. This year, we feature highway projects separately, ranking the top 10 TxDOT projects that broke ground in 2004. The result is an additional ranking of nearly $1.2 billion of just 10 highway projects. That amount is not included in this overview.

Projects on the latest top 25 list represent nearly every aspect of the state's vital commercial-building industry, from high-tech and retail to infrastructure and higher education. Dominating the rankings this year are projects in the health care and K-12 sectors. Ten of the 25 projects fell into either category, with an even five in each.

Infrastructure was the next popular category, with the list representing four such projects around the state: a water-treatment plant expansion in Austin; a bayport container and cruise terminal in Houston; an intermodal railport in Dallas; and improvements at the Fort Hood U.S. Army base in Killeen.

Entertainment/hospitality dotted the rankings, as did mixed-use/retail with three projects in each category. Two projects represent the higher education/research sector.

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Business and high tech made a strong showing, with three major corporations undertaking expansions around the state. CitiGroup's $100 million expansion is under way in Irving, and Samsung in Austin is growing to the tune of nearly $75 million.

And topping the project rankings this year is Texas Instruments wafer-fabrication plant expansion project known as the Texas Instruments R Fab plant, which broke ground in November in Richardson. Austin Commercial LP of Dallas was awarded the $250 million design-build contract in March.

In 2003 Texas boasted the largest job-creation announcement in the nation with the $3 billion TI plant expansion.

Health-care building continues to have a strong pulse in the state's market. Second on this year's list is the new $200 million Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin. White Construction Co. of Austin was selected as the general contractor for the project, which broke ground in June.

The project will nearly double patient capacity and be approximately 480,000 sq. ft., making it three times larger than the current facility of 150,000 sq. ft.

It is worth noting that this year's top two projects are registered with the U.S. Green Building Council to seek different rating levels of LEED building certification after completion.

In the third spot is the Port of Houston Bayport and Cruise Terminal project. Zachry Construction Corp. of Houston is the lead contractor for the $180 million project that broke ground in June.

Lyda Swinerton Builders of San Antonio began construction in December on the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, a 500-room, $135 million resort in Bastrop.

And rounding out the top five is the CitiGroup North Texas Expansion project. Austin Commercial LP is providing preconstruction, quality control and general contracting for two new office facilities on separate sites in Irving, one which broke ground in August and the other in November.

Texas Construction's Top 25 Projects >>