When evaluating the Midwest’s largest contractors, it is clear that there is no one formula for success. Like a good financial portfolio, the key is to diversify.
The top 10 firms on ENR’s Top Contractors list have their largest projects spread across six different states. Project types range from professional sports arenas to high school renovations to redeveloped affordable housing to downtown Chicago high-rises.
The 100 respondents to this year’s list earned $37.74 billion in regional revenue in 2017. That’s only slightly higher than the $34.9 billion earned by the 92 respondents last year.
Nevertheless, many firms still saw a jump in revenue and number of employees. Southfield, Mich.-based Barton Malow Co. remained in the list’s top five (No. 4 overall) thanks to high-profile local projects such as Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and the $86-million, 140,000-sq-ft expansion of Romeo (Michigan) High School.