MCCARTHY STATEWIDE
The Texas regional office of McCarthy Building Companies (based in Dallas) considers itself more of a statewide firm. It's to-do list supports the claim: Wrapping a $220M M.D. Anderson expansion in Houston; Fort Worth’s Westside Water Treatment Plant; DART projects in Dallas; and the recent groundbreaking on the Midland Memorial Hospital expansion in West Texas. | |||
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| Who is this statewide man of mystery? Not Austin Powers but VP Chris Peck. We snapped him recently as he told us about a project with DISD (with more likely in the pipeline). Work also continues with the Port of Houston, and construction has started on a municipal garage for the city of Frisco. Being oriented toward diverse public sector opportunities, Chris says, “our work hasn’t had as much of a dip as maybe other companies.” | |||
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The UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Albert B. and Margaret M. Alkek Hospital expansion in Houston (say that five times fast and you too may need a doctor) began in January 2008 and is scheduled for completion this year. The design-build project (designed by HKS) will add 12 levels to the existing 12. Chris says it was extremely challenging, probably the toughest healthcare construction you can do because it was like pulling the lid off of it to add 12 more floors. Plus, it’s in the middle of the medical district. | |||
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Chris showing us progress on M.D. Anderson, just one sign that things are generally looking up. He’s starting to see people hiring again, particularly in the tech sector. Additionally, housing starts like Hillwood’s Twin Creeks in Allen show that people are moving to the area, he says, and his friends in the residential side are starting to hire staff. When he gets the chance to chill out, he does it on the ice, literally; he serves on the McKinney Ice Hockey Club’s board. He donned his skates until recently, but now prefers to watch his ninth-grade son hit the ice. | |||
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Chris says McCarthy’s client list varies from general construction to civil projects. Eg, the award-winning Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas HQ in Richardson as well as the AT&T Performing Arts Center Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre (above), which opened in October. The company has $350M in projects statewide and ranked No. 5 in the DBJ’s top DFW construction firms. “Ten years ago, we weren't in the top 25,” Chris adds. | |||
