Mountain States Specialty Contractors Looking Ahead to Better Times
Despite forecasts for modest gains in construction activity and employment in Utah and Colorado next year, the region's top specialty contractors remain only "cautiously optimistic." They are hoping for the best and doing what they can to prepare for whatever lies ahead while they deal with lower margins and less work.

Kiewit Selected as 2011 Contractor of Year in the Mountain States
Kiewit, founded in 1884 in Omaha, Neb., as a masonry contractor, has grown into one of the largest construction firms in North America, boasting total revenue close to $10 billion for 2010, with Mountain West regional revenue of $417 million.

HDR Selected as ENR Mountain States Design Firm of the Year
HDR, an architecture, engineering and consulting giant headquartered in Omaha, Neb., is perhaps best known for its highway, transit and water projects. The firm employs more than 7,800 professionals in 185 locations worldwide.

University of Utah Builds a Community
New master plan for the Salt Lake City campus aims to increase density, boost mass transit and encourage more students to live and gather

Six Companies to Watch
With many industry economists predicting slow but steady improvement for construction this year and next, firms may see more work coming their way. But as stimulus funding runs out and the industry faces uncertain infrastructure funding from Congress and overburdened state governments, few contractors and designers can rest easy.