Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a year for growth at Swinerton. The firm grew its regional revenue by roughly 80% over 2019, earning $646.71 million for its work throughout Texas. For its incredible growth during 2020, dedication to its employees and clients, and focus on making a positive impact on its market sectors and local communities, Swinerton has been named as the 2021 Contractor of the Year in ENR Texas & Louisiana.
Swinerton launched its Dallas office in fall 2019, helping the firm win work and branch out into new markets and geographies. Swinerton formed a COVID-19 Plan at the start of the pandemic, which allowed the firm to progress safely with its diverse portfolio of projects in Texas, including large power projects through Swinerton Renewable Energy (SRE).
The firm, with its regional headquarters in Austin, saw its commercial project work, which included repeat confidential clients, nearly double in 2020. Swinerton also won aviation work at Dallas Love Field.
Throughout 2020, SRE completed four projects for a total installed capacity of over 1 gigawatt in Texas, making the state SRE's largest solar market with over 2.8 gigawatts of capacity installed or in development through 2023.
Swinerton also launched Timberlab in 2021. With this affiliate mass timber company, the company is looking to grow the use of sustainable and aesthetic benefits of mass timber in the region.
Meanwhile, with the shortage of a skilled workforce and the need for workforce development in mind, Swinerton has developed its own workforce development program with the National Center for Construction Education and Research, dedicated to the training, evaluation and development of craft workforce.
The firm's Texas’ warehouse training facility opened in Austin in August 2020, started training drywall carpenters last summer, followed by approximately 30 apprentices, craft laborers and forepersons starting classes last fall.
Swinerton’s recent major projects include Prospero 1 in Andrews, Texas. This $194-million, 379-MWdc PV solar project is located on 4,600 acres. Facebook is the sole tax equity investor for Prospero 1 and will share the renewable energy attributes generated with Shell Energy North America through a 12-year Power Purchase Agreement for the project's power off-take.
Other projects include two in Austin: Domain 10, a $48-million, 15-story class A podium style office building, and Center Lake 02, a $28-million, 130,000-sq-ft, cold shell, single-story, first-generation design-build tenant improvement project.
In Texas, Swinerton supports more than nine nonprofits each year whose missions align with its focus areas of construction expertise, education, workforce development and local community. In 2020, grants totaled $32,991, which is equal to 0.96% of the company's net income. Additionally, employees donated $11,430 and 544 hours of their personal time to local charities. For the past six years, Swinerton has achieved more than 80% employee volunteer participation.
For more on Swinerton’s accomplishments across Texas, check out the Aug. 2 print issue of ENR Texas & Louisiana.
