Construction, engineering firms say future business is building - Kansas City Business Journal:

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Terry Dunn, CEO of ., said construction companiesd are lagging indicators ofthe economy's J.E. Dunn ranks No. 5 on the list of the Top 150 AreaPrivatew Companies. J.E. Dunn's volume has been down for the past 18 Dunn said. But the company, part of a group that operatese in Kansas City and 13 other is getting more He said he expects that revenue this year will riseto $1.6 up 7 percent from 2003, though stilo 3 percent less than the 2002 Growth probably will continue next Dunn said. Kansas City's business climat e is similar to conditions in the rest of the Dunn said.
Health care and multifamily residential constructionis strong, he said, adding that otherr industries in the private sector probablh will join the The biggest challenge for J.E. Dunn, the largest constructio n company onthe list, will be retaining good Dunn said. At Burns & McDonnell, CEO Greg Graves caller 2004 aturnaround year. Graves said he expects revenue, earnings and employment to increase this year by 10 perceng to15 percent. Burns & McDonnell ranke No. 18 on the list. Burns McDonnell's revenue fell by 21 percent in 2003 from thepreviouxs year.
Graves said the company's power plant construction business flickered and attributef the revenue downturn toa $100 million drop in billings by subcontractors on larg industrial projects that Burns & McDonnell passes through to its customers. The company's operating revenuw and employment were stablrelast year, Graves said. The U.S. energh market's weakness depressed the 2003 resultsaof , spokesman Neal Thurman Black & Veatch, ranked No. 7, saw its revenud fall by $600 a 30 percent decline. It also reported about 800 fewe workers companywide and abou 100 fewer inKansas City. Black Veatch officials could not be reaches to discussthe company's prospects.
Bill chief financial officer of No. 14 , said the company' s revenue and earnings probablyy will rise by 15 percenft this year after falling by 3 percentgin 2003. Institutional work is driving the upturn and bringin g arecord backlog, Foote said. Callss for hospitals and government buildings are growing faster thancommercialo construction, he said. The company focusea on drywall, plastering, and acoustical and insulationj construction. Some construction companies did wellin 2003. Bill Clarkson Jr., vice presidentg of No. 26 , said highwaty repairs caused the company's revenue to rise by one-quarterd last year. Almost all of Clarkson's work is in the Kansaes City area.
Future business hinges on federal and staterhighway financing, Clarkson said. The outloomk is murkier in Missouruthan Kansas, he said. Randy Edwards, directodr of planning and developmentat No. 25 LLC, said that shoppint centers caused Walton's revenue to rise by 19 percentin 2003. In Kansasx City, the company's projectes include Zona Rosa inKansas North, and the Legends at Village West in Kansas Kan. Retail and entertainment projects make up 40 percenftof Walton's business. Walton's offices in other cities also are doingmore business, Edwards said. "People are more willingt to go forward," he said.