Uncertainty is still heavily heavy as contractors in the Midwest region of 13 states seek to take advantage of advances made in 2023 and 2024.
By 2024, the average regional revenue of contractors slightly reduced to $ 767 million compared to the peak of $ 2023, but this performance is still the second best overall average in the last decade. Together, the 79 companies participating in the Top Contractors 2025 survey of Enr Midwest recorded $ 60.6 billion in general revenue for 2024, compared to $ 66.9 billion registered by 84 companies for 2023.
With regard to the 25 best contractors in the region, these companies recorded regional revenue combined of $ 47.7 billion for 2024, they also dropped slightly compared to the first 25 last year, which reported $ 50.4 billion during 2023.
The company’s leaders emphasize that embracing new opportunities and maintaining several portfolios were key successful strategies. The critical sectors, health care and renewable energy also showed a particular strength.
“The region is still attractive to industrial development due to its geographical and population advantages. We are also seeing that customers emphasize sustainable construction, efficiency, prefabrication and modular construction, the areas where we have made significant progress,” says Michael C. Brown, Regional President of Chicago, Gilbane Building Co., “while the demand for design, craft, Trusting in the general trajectory of the design and construction markers. “
Mortenson is building the Center for Care and Criticism Center for Abbott Northwestern Richard M. Schulze, scheduled for completion in 2026.
Courtesy of Ma Mortenson Co.
Brown says that Gilbane is based on force in his basic markets and the addition of large -scale projects in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, as well as science and technology to promote revenue growth.
Another Midwest contractor, McCarthy Building Cos., Based in St. Louis is seeing an increasing demand for care facilities, a result of changing populations, advances in aging technology and infrastructure, along with research facilities focused on scientific discovery, entrepreneurship and marketing, says Ryan Sawall, CEO in the central region.
“Labor availability and cost climbing are still layers, but demand has not been slowed.”
—Sheryl Van Anne, Vice President and CEO, Ma Mortenson Co.
“Our industrial team also benefits from an increase in new project opportunities in manufacturing, power and process markets,” adds Sawall, noting that renewable energy is another boom area, as solar projects in particular are proven to be a practical source of low carbon energy for municipal buildings.
The Midwest is also one of the fastest growing nuclei for critical projects and mission data centers.
In order to address the scarcity of labor qualified throughout the industry, McCarthy invests “in labor development programs, innovative hiring strategies and labor -saving strategies such as the outside of the place and the technological tools that improve productivity,” he says.
Sawall says that McCarthy also offers large and complex projects as efficient as possible. “This is to adopt collaborative delivery methods, advance in construction techniques and technologies, and to stay aligned with our customers and partners,” says Sawall.
With states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois who see sustained public and private investments, developers prioritize highly e efficiency and highly amenitized buildings, says Sheryl van Anne, Vice President and CEO of Golden Valley, Ma Mortenson Co., based in MINN.
One of Gilbane’s remarkable projects is the expansion of Baird Center, a Milwaukee Convention Center.
Gilbane’s courtesy photo
“Labor availability and cost climbing are still heads, but the demand has not been slowed,” he says. “We are monitoring the fluctuations of the interest rate and the federal financing cycles; those that can accelerate or delay the main capital projects.
“We tilted a lot [in 2024] In sectors where we have created a deep experience – cleaning energy, health care, education and criticism of missions – and we have seen results, “says Anne.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges for Midwest contractors is the uncertainty of the project cost, “driven by the economic conditions that change rapidly, which creates a significant risk to customers,” says Chuck Binkowski, Operational Director Barton Maldings LLC, Southfield, Mich. The proactive and transparent approach not only helps to reduce the perceived risks, but also guarantees that the programs can continue to move forward. “
Despite this and other challenges, contractors are cautiously optimistic as the second half of 2025 approaches.
“As we look into the future, it is important to keep a laser focused on meet the needs and aspirations of our customers, many of which face significant challenges in their own organizations,” says Sawall. “At the same time, we must remain agile and invest in our business so that we can continue to provide excellent results to our customers and a great place to work for our employees.”
Van Anne adds that his company is finding success in doing what is suitable for customers and redefining what is possible for their businesses. “For 2025 and beyond, we continue this focus as we are dedicated to continuous improvement: to embrace avant -garde technology, build sustainably, invest in our workforce and, above all, ensure the safety of all those in the place,” he says.
