Texas still the hotest spot for capital projects?

Today I had lunch with an engineer friend of mine who does a lot of higher education work. I asked him how his business was going. He said 2007 was his best year, 2008 was slower, and 2009 slower than 2008. What he sees is that the current workload is moving into construction, which means that his engineering work, of course, is reduced.

The University of Texas (UT) is still the largest higher education Owner pushing out construction, and MB Galveston has the lion's share of work. Most of this work is being contracted to Houston-area firms, which makes sense. Still, if you kook at the current UT System Capital Improvement Program (CIP) you will see that many of the project schedules have been pushed WAY down the road, like from 2010 to 2014.

As the current UT projects are completed , what is the prospect for new work in 2011 or 2012? With a renewed interest in community colleges, this may be where future construction dollars are headed...

2nd Annual LinCP Forum Announces Stellar Keynote Speakers

Austin, TX, Leadership in Capital Projects (LinCP – pronounced “link-up”) Forum announces two nationally renowned keynote speakers for their February 2010 event, to be held in Austin, Texas.

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010: Barbara White Bryson, The Owner’s Dilemma

Barbara White Bryson, FAIA MBA is Associate Vice President of Facilities Engineering and Planning at Rice University. She has stewarded the master-planning and growth of the Rice campus for nearly a decade, completing more than $1 billion and nearly two million SF in construction. Barbara has led the facilities, engineering and central plant operations since 2004.

In 2008, Barbara was recognized by the AIA and elevated to the institute’s College of Fellows for her integrated planning work at the University of Miami and Rice University as well as for her role in leading design and construction efforts on the Rice campus. Barbara attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, received a B.S. from the University of Texas–Arlington and her M.B.A. at the University of Miami.

She is a former board member of AIA Houston and the Rice Design Alliance and currently serves on the board for the Rice Building Institute and the Design Future’s Council for Design Intelligence.

Barbara is authoring a book, titled, “The Owner’s Dilemma,” to be published in spring, 2010.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010: Jack Lowe Jr., Building Organizational Leadership.

Jack Lowe Jr. joined TDIndustries in 1964, became the CEO and Board Chair in 1980, and in December 2004, retired as CEO. TDIndustries is a national mechanical and plumbing construction and facility service company, headquartered in Dallas. TDIndustries projects have included Dallas Cowboy Stadium, American Airlines Center, Phoenix’s Cardinal Stadium, Texas Instruments semiconductor plants, Embassy Suites and San Marcos Conference Center in San Marcos, Palisades West in Austin, Lakewood Church, 1000 Main, Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute and Methodist Hospital Outpatient Care Center in Houston.

Founded in 1946, TDIndustries has developed into one of America’s premier specialty contracting companies. For eleven consecutive years the company has appeared in the FORTUNE magazine’s list of the 100 best companies to work for in America. Jack Lowe attributes the trust which underpins their success to the employee-owned company’s “servant leader” philosophy, in which all 1700 employees are Partners. 2008 revenue was about $320 million.

Jack is a regular speaker at business groups and colleges on building organizational leadership, servant leadership and quality. He’s also been featured in a number of articles and books.

Currently, Jack serves as Zale Corporation, Chairman of the Board, Drew Industries, Board of Directors and KDC, Board of Directors.

Civic and community service include: Dallas Independent School District, Board of Trustees, Board President; Texas Business and Education Coalition, Board of Directors; Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, Board of Directors and Dallas Citizens Council Member.

Recent awards received include: Recipient of National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Principle-Centered Leadership‚ 2000; Recipient of J. Erik Jonsson Ethics Award from the SMU Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility, 2002; Named Master Entrepreneur of the Year‚ Ernst & Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year Awards‚ 2000; Recognized as Board Chair of the Year - 2002 by the National Associated General Contractors of America; Recipient of Leadership Dallas Alumni Association’s 2000 Distinguished Alumni Award for demonstrating outstanding professional and community achievements; Recipient of Crystal Achievement Award from the National Association of Women In Construction at their annual convention in Washington, DC, for his role in the advancement of women and minorities in the construction industry; September, 1996; Honorary Doctorate of Letters and Laws from Sterling College, Sterling, Kansas, 2003 and Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 2001

Jack graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rice University with a BA and BSEE degrees, and served in the U. S. Navy.

For more information visit the LinCP Forum website: http://www.LinCP.com