Texas Construction presents its annual Top Design feature of 95 participating firms ranked by instate revenue from the previous calendar or fiscal year for work performed in Texas. This year the Top Design firm is URS Corp., with more than $388.1 million in Texas billings.

The 95 Texas firms in the annual Top Design ranking collectively billed about $2.878 billion in the state, no drastic change from the $2.871 billion from the 90 firms on last year’s list. Worldwide, the collective revenue generated by these firms was $22.4 billion for 2009.

The survey results show, among other data, that total project starts statewide from firms that disclosed this was more than $7.8 billion. General building generated $1 billion, while transportation led the market-sector total with $557.2 million.

The Top Five

As URS Corp. retains its No. 1 spot in these pages, it should be noted that the firm inadvertently provided its total annual revenue rather than worldwide design revenue in the worldwide rankings last year due to unclear instructions on our part, which we regret not clarifying. One may notice that its worldwide design revenue is $4.847 billion on this year’s list; last year it appeared as $10 billion. That figure was total annual revenue.

AECOM Technology Corp. retains its spot from last year, ranking No. 2 with approximately $171.3 million reported from its Texas operations.

No. 3, with $124.4 million, is Zachry Engineering Corp. Zachry Holdings of San Antonio, which divided its operations in 2008, when Zachry Construction separated into two business portfolios now enters Zachry Engineering in the Top Design list. It provides industrial engineering services, including those in the transportation and power sectors.

No. 4, also a repeat from last year, is HDR with $121.4 million, reporting a slight increase in revenue from last year’s list, with $104.1 million.

HNTB Corp. takes the No. 5 slot with $119.6 million in Texas revenue for 2009.

Six Through 10

No. 6, Parsons Brinckerhoff, with $117.2 million in Texas revenue; No. 7, PBS&J with $99.9 million; No. 8, CH2M HILL with $91 million; No. 9, Freese & Nichols Inc. with $77.4 million; and No. 10, PBK with $71.6 million.

Firms leading the break-out categories but not in the top ten are: Gensler, No 1 in commercial, interior design, and hospitality; Walter P Moore in the entertainment category; PageSoutherlandPage for health care; BOKA Powell for muti-unit residential; HKS for sports/recreation; Studio Red Architects in religious/cultural; Good Fulton & Farrell for retail; and Jones & Carter for surveying and mapping.