3 Important Lessons From America’s Top Construction Companies

The construction industry continues to experience steady growth, with spending increasing by more than $1 trillion over the past 15 years. As such, it’s a massive contributor to the economy, making up 4.5 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024. While there are currently a whopping 3.7 million construction businesses, America’s top construction companies include Skanska (also huge internationally), Clark Construction, Turner Construction, Fluor and Bechtel. 

These firms create an endless gamut of buildings and structures, ranging from schools and hospitals to factories and office buildings and everything in between. They’ve also employed countless strategies and approaches as they forged their winning reputations. Here are three important lessons to learn from America’s top construction companies that can easily be applied to other businesses and sectors. 

Turner Construction

Founded 1902

Headquarters: New York

Sales: $17.1 billion

Brief history: Turner has a history tied to “concrete” success (pun intended), as the company’s origins and first works emphasized the use of this material. In fact, its debut project was a concrete vault in Brooklyn, N.Y.. Another major contract was building the concrete staircases for the New York City subway system. And Turner was also a pioneer in the application of steel-enforced concrete, which was a huge step forward for construction efficiency as well as structural safety.

By the 1920s, the firm that had begun with merely $25,000 in capital was thriving and building structures for clients such as Western Electric, Standard Oil, Kodak and Colgate. The company was also behind such iconic landmarks as the newest iteration of Madison Square Garden and the United Nations Secretariat building. Turner’s global presence was bolstered following its 1999 acquisition by the German construction firm Hochtief AG.  

Turner rose to new heights so to speak in the 21st century by playing a part in the construction of famed skyscrapers that include 19 of the 100 tallest structures on the planet. One such example is Taiwan’s towering Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world.

Lesson 1: Embrace Sustainability & Employee Wellness

Turner makes a serious effort to embrace green building practices, with an emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint of concrete. Reflecting Turner’s dedication to leveraging next-generation materials and approaches that lead to a more sustainable future, three of its projects — San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Terminal 3 West, the Intuit Dome and a research facility in Massachusetts — were honored with Concrete Innovation Awards by the Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). 

“Our teams are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction, and these awards are a testament to their innovation and commitment,” Julia Gisewite, Turner’s vice president and chief sustainability officer, stated recently. “By integrating advanced low-carbon concrete solutions, we are not only lowering embodied carbon but also demonstrating what’s possible for the future of the built environment.”

On the employee wellness side, Turner teams up with groups like Yale New Haven Health to address mental health challenges in the construction industry. They even put together events to heighten awareness and reduce stigma, creating a healthier work setting in a demanding sector known for high-stress environments. 

Their thoughtful, holistic approach accounts for physical, mental and emotional well-being. Case in point: They diligently adhere to worker safety regulations such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Work/Rest Schedules, which includes providing workers with extended breaks and electrolyte replacements in extreme heat. Likewise, in the winter months they set up warming stations and furnish employees with insulated clothing and gloves.

Bechtel

Founded:1898

Headquarters: Reston, Va.

Sales: $12.9 billion

Brief history: Bechtel Corporation was founded in 1898, incorporated in 1925 and, today, stands as one of the most prominent engineering, construction and project management companies on the planet.

Created by Warren A. Bechtel, the firm got on track early as a railroad construction company in the western U.S. Beginning with a team of mules that would help in grading railbeds, it later incorporated as W.A. Bechtel Company and quickly became a leader in heavy construction — focusing on projects such as roads, bridges and hydroelectric plants.

A huge breakthrough came in the 1930s, when Bechtel took part in one of the most impressive projects in U.S. history to date — the construction of the Hoover Dam. After the second World War, Bechtel branched out into pipelines, power plants and nuclear energy. The company also played a key role in the expansion of American infrastructure, including a major role in developing the U.S. interstate highway system. 

Over the years, Bechtel grew globally, gaining acclaim for projects like the Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) connecting France and the U.K. Bechtel’s legacy comprises more than 25,000 projects across 160 countries.

Lesson 2: Leverage Innovative Technology & Advanced Analytics

How seriously does Bechtel take the strategic use of data and analytics? They actually have a Big Data & Analytics Center of Excellence (BDAC) that uses AI and deep learning to improve construction sequencing, which reduces variability and risk with complex projects. A key innovation here is Bechtel’s employment of AI models that are similar to strategy games, simulating construction sequences virtually. This frees up project teams to test various ideas and pinpoint the methods that are the most efficient and cost-effective. 

Bechtel’s also boasts extensive tech infrastructure giving them the ability to process massive troves of data culled from their operations around the world. This data is analyzed to provide better awareness and understanding of the driving forces behind top-quality project results.

But their tech innovation doesn’t stop there. Bechtel introduced robots to automate repetitive straightforward undertakings and approached enabling its actual employees to focus on more sophisticated tasks that actually add value. Beyond that, Bechtel has also embraced Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with Internet of Things (IoT) technology, leading to an evolution in how staffers communicate with systems and reach reliable, data-driven decisions. 

The firm also has plans on how to best prepare their workforce for future evolutions in AI and automation, offering internships focused on AI and robotics in which students are dedicated to innovation initiatives from initial conception to implementation. 

Clark Construction

Founded: 1906

Headquarters: Bethesda, Md.

Sales: $6 billion

Brief history: Clark Construction’s roots go back to 1906 when it was first known as the George Hyman Construction Company, named for its founder. It actually began as an excavation enterprise and gained early fame for using the first steam shovel in Washington, D.C. The company expanded into construction work in 1923 and was purchased by James Clark in 1969, who spearheaded its evolution into a recognized national contractor. 

Under his guidance, the company merged with Omni Construction, forming Clark Construction in 1966. The company’s growth has been spurred by some important acquisitions, including purchasing Shirley Contracting Company in 1993, Guy F. Atkinson Construction in 1998 and C3M Power Systems in 2014, increasing its reach and capabilities.

Clark has been behind some extraordinary projects over the years, including San Francisco’s Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Warriors (pictured; photo credit: Jason O’Rear). The company also helped build the iconic Long Beach Civic Center that includes city hall, a civic chamber and a public library as well as the stunning National Museum of African American History and Culture — a landmark museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Clark also led the build of D.C’s popular L’Enfant Plaza, a commercial and transportation hub named for Pierre Charles L’Enfant, who designed the city’s initial layout. 

Lesson 3: Explore Smart Maintenance Approaches

One of the many strategies that have lifted Clark to the top of the construction industry is maintaining their success with smart maintenance approaches. Their employment of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology allows for real-time tracking of building components, helping teams manage maintenance schedules more effectively. Clark has also frequently employed modular designs, minimizing maintenance efforts and making repairs and replacements more efficient.

Clark’s use of virtual and augmented reality has also been a boon to maintenance planning by providing immersive visualizations of building systems, helping teams recognize possible problems in advance. And Clark’s sustainable approach has also boosted maintenance by incorporating energy-efficient systems and materials needing less upkeep over time, lessening long-term expenses as well as environmental impact.

Clark is also an expert at heavy equipment servicing, including the use of mobile service teams that handle maintenance directly at job sites, fleet management that tracks equipment deployment and execution to optimize efficiency, and specialized services furnishing support such as fueling, washing and operational maintenance for construction machinery. All of this work is done effectively through the use of construction maintenance software.