Data Center Boom Fuels Record Revenue for Texas, Southeast Contractors
The top 100 contractors on ENR’s Texas & Southeast Top Contractors list combined for $142.4 billion in revenue in 2025, a 14% jump from 2024, according to ENR’s regional rankings report. The gains were driven largely by mission-critical data center work, with the top five telecom-sector firms, DPR Construction, HITT Contracting, Mortenson, Brasfield & Gorrie and Turner Construction, all landing among the region’s top eight overall. DPR jumped from No. 4 to No. 1 with an 85% revenue increase to $8.34 billion, including a $2.9-billion confidential data center job in Louisiana. HITT Contracting’s revenue climbed 59% to $3.78 billion, with 71% tied to telecom work. Turner posted $5.84 billion in revenue, up 35%, and is also leading civic work including the $1.26-billion Austin Convention Center redevelopment with JE Dunn and the $3.7-billion Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center expansion in Dallas. JE Dunn’s Greg Lorei cited a persistent shortage of qualified tradespeople and high borrowing and building costs as ongoing headwinds.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Data center-focused trades, especially electrical, mechanical and power infrastructure contractors, should target teams like DPR, HITT and Mortenson, which are actively scaling mission-critical portfolios in Texas and the Southeast.
- Civic construction subcontractors (excavation, concrete, MEP) have two major near-term targets: the $1.26-billion Austin Convention Center project (Turner/JE Dunn JV) and the $3.7-billion Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center expansion in Dallas (Turner, AECOM Hunt, Trinity Partners).
- Workforce shortages flagged by JE Dunn’s Greg Lorei suggest openings for staffing and training partners; firms tied into regional workforce development or apprenticeship programs may have an edge securing labor-strapped project packages.
