Randy Larson has been with PBS&J of Tampa for more than 21 years. Currently, he serves as president of PBS&J Constructors, and executive vice president of the recently acquired Peter R. Brown Construction, previously based in Clearwater, Fla. Larson also acts as chairman of the combined boards of both companies. LARSON Employee-owned PBSJ Corp. of Tampa, parent company of the engineering, architecture and sciences company PBS&J, PBS&J Constructors and PBS&J International, acquired construction manager Peter R. Brown Construction of Clearwater late last year for $16 million, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. What was the motivation for this transaction?

Despite having let nearly all of the projects in its current $3.5 billion capital improvements program, Miami-Dade County Public Schools still has a backlog of needs that could be addressed through federal stimulus funding. “We still have hundreds of millions of dollars in ‘shovel-ready’ mode which we now have on hold due to reduced projected revenues,” Victor Alonso, design officer with MDCPS said in a recent email. To date, Alonso reports that the district has awarded approximately 90% of the $3.5 billion Capital Work Plan that was initiated in 2004-2005. Among the projects funded by that program are a $74

The carefully crafted public-private partnership developed to build the estimated $1 billion Port of Miami tunnel has fallen apart, with the equity partner Babcock & Brown of Australia bailing out of the deal, but area elected officials hope to keep the project alive. “We’re looking at everything and will take a step back to look at the opportunities and options,” says Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Dick Kane. FDOT selected in February 2008 Miami Access Tunnel, comprised of Bouygues Publics Travaux of France and equity partner Babcock & Brown, to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the bored tunnels. The

A sinking economy that has meant fewer tourists in Central Florida and dropping hotel room rates has led to a nearly 5% decline in tourist development tax revenue during the last six months, significantly damaging the City of Orlando’s plans for a $425 million performing arts center and a $175 million renovation of the Florida Citrus Bowl. “We are currently reviewing cost-reduction measures including timing, project schedules, site configuration and other opportunities to reduce the overall project budget,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says in a written statement. The projects are part of a three-venue, downtown improvement package, totaling more than