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University Report

University Report

Higher ed sector still strong, but double-digit growth may end


August 11, 2010
This article first appeared in the 200807 issue of BD+C.

Higher education construction spending is currently 18% higher than a year ago, but the year-to-year gain will slide down to near 10% for most of 2008-09. Public higher education spending increased 13% during the last year, while private spending jumped 29%, mostly for classrooms and residence halls.

The value of construction starts has declined from the peak level last summer with no pickup expected by the end of 2009. Total education construction starts increased 8% in 2006 and 5% in 2007, but will drop 20% this year and stay at the 2008 level through 2009. State budget reserves for funding university construction weakened from excellent to average earlier this year and will slip to sub-par in 2009. This is a much milder drop in funding availability than the dip that occurred in 2002-03. Similarly, the investment earnings of private universities have weakened substantially in the slow economy. The era of huge gains in hedge funds has passed.

Top 20 university design firms
(2007 billings in $ millions)

Company Billings
Source: 2008 Giants 300 survey Note: This ranking is based on firms that made the Giants 300 list.
1. AECOM Technology Corp. 76.17
2. Arup 66.00
3. HOK 64.02
4. Cannon Design 43.37
5. Jacobs Engineering Group 39.35
6. Burt Hill 34.45
7. Perkins+Will 30.60
8. STV Group 30.09
9. RMJM 29.70
10. Einhorn Yaffee Prescott 29.28
11. Stantec 29.06
12. Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects 26.85
13. Rosser International 24.75
14. URS Corp. 24.00
15. Sasaki Associates 22.95
16. CUH2A 21.61
17. HDR Architecture 21.20
18. Vanderweil Engineers 20.85
19. Affiliated Engineers 19.48
20. SmithGroup 18.70

Top 20 university contractors
(2007 construction value put in place in $ millions)

Company Value put in place
Source: 2008 Giants 300 survey Note: This ranking is based on firms that made the Giants 300 list.
1. Turner Corp., The 1,034.02
2. Skanska USA Building 600.00
3. Structure Tone 500.14
4. Gilbane Building Co. 396.66
5. Hunt Construction Group 360.00
6. Flintco Cos., The 335.36
7. M. A. Mortenson 298.94
8. McCarthy Holdings 268.43
9. JE Dunn Construction Group 263.52
10. Hensel Phelps Construction 251.93
11. PCL Construction Enterprises 218.61
12. Swinerton 200.20
13. Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., The 194.61
14. Clark Group 189.85
15. Paric Corp. 175.10
16. Shawmut Design and Construction 170.12
17. C.W. Driver 150.37
18. Choate Construction 147.78
19. Austin Commercial 141.35
20. Boldt Co., The 134.82

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