Texas &amp; Louisiana City Scoop: Construction Starts in Austin

Texas & Louisiana City Scoop: Construction Starts in Austin

Overall construction spending in Austin area expected to post a 1.5% decline in 2020

A sharp increase in non-building activity will be more than offset by weakness in non-residential and residential work.

City Grill

Phil Thoden
President & CEO
AGC Austin

Austin and the surrounding communities continued to grow at a strong pace in early 2020, according to Thoden.

Apple began construction on its new $1-billion Austin campus in November.

“Hotel and office construction is strong, and all the retail, school and housing markets are busy keeping up with the growing population,” Thoden says.

The University of Texas began construction in December on the $338-million Moody Center, a new basketball and events center, and began a seating capacity expansion at Texas Memorial Stadium in April—the $175-million South End Zone Addition.

“Meanwhile, a new soccer stadium is underway in North Austin for the Major League Soccer Austin FC expansion team kicking off,” Thoden says. “The Austin airport will see continued expansion as well.”

The major concern here in Austin, and everywhere, at this time is the impact of COVID-19, Thoden adds. “The expectation, however, is that once the pandemic subsides the Austin area will still be poised for strong construction growth in the years to come,” he says.