Construction work in the Ozarks is expected to experience a slight downturn in 2016, with area firms reporting 100 projects valued at $278.9 million.
Collected from a survey conducted by the Springfield Contractors Association and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the projections were reported yesterday at the third annual Springfield Regional Construction Bidding Forecast held at Missouri State University’s William H. Darr Agricultural Center.
The figures represent a 13 percent decrease in the number of projects and a nearly $110 million dollar drop from the 2014-15 forecast.
Mark Gambon, an agent with Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance and an SCA board member who presented the updated forecast, said results of the survey, also administered this year by the local component of The American Institute of Architects, are not a complete indicator for construction work in the area.
“We don’t believe we’re slowing down in this industry,” Gambon said, noting only 15 firms responded to the survey, compared to 32 respondents last year. “I think that means everyone is busier.”
The survey covered a roughly 75-mile radius around Springfield, but Gambon said it did not account for a majority of private work inside that area.
“If you look at the numbers we have right now, and with every architectural firm and engineering firm in town as busy as they can be … we know there is going to be more coming down the pike that we are just not capturing,” he said. “It’s only a part of what’s out there.”
Of the 100 projects reported, 74 public projects were valued at $190 million and 26 private jobs were valued at roughly $88 million. Gambon added the largest project accounted for is valued at $20 million.
By type, 55 of the projects were new building contracts, making up $194.9 million of the total projection. Civil construction projects, such as roadways, numbered 32 and accounted for roughly $68.8 million, while 13 specialty projects, including gas lines, made up the remaining $15.2 million.
Doug Sampson, MSU’s university architect and director of planning, design and construction, said his office did not report all of its 150 projects to the survey because some are not yet budgeted.
Sampson added during the past 12 months, 83 separate projects valued in excess of $46 million were completed at the Springfield campus.
Upcoming projects at MSU include a new Federal Emergency Management Agency shelter, Ellis Hall’s first significant renovation since its construction in 1957 and construction of a new 36,000-square-foot health center at the heart of its campus.
Residence halls also would see changes over the next two years. Kentwood Hall is scheduled to receive an upgraded elevator and stair tower, while Blair-Shannon would see complete bathroom renovations over two phases, beginning with Blair in summer 2016 and concluding with Shannon in summer 2017.
“Each of those projects will be well over $1 million in construction contracts,” Sampson said.
