The Natural State’s biggest construction projects and the companies behind them
by Dustin Jayroe & Matthew King
Almost everywhere across the state, new and exciting construction projects are underway, and they are as diverse as ever – from new corporate headquarters and schools to highways and casino resorts.
Roger Marlin, president and CEO of North Little Rock-based construction company Hydco and president of the board of directors for the Arkansas Association of General Contractors, says, “The trend for the largest numbers of projects in the state has focused primarily in two areas: central Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas, although there have been several high-profile projects located in other areas, such as Jonesboro, the new Simmons Prepared Foods in Siloam Springs, Oaklawn’s expansion (in Hot Springs), Southland’s (in West Memphis) and the Bank OZK Headquarters (in Little Rock). Those are just a few examples of large building projects that are underway in the state.”
William Clark, CEO of Clark Contractors in Little Rock, is working on several multi-million dollar projects, including Arkansas Heart Hospital’s new $60 million campus in Bryant, a new $42 million Embassy Suites hotel in Jonesboro and the $13.7 million De Queen High School.
“The economy has been robust and doesn’t appear to show signs of dropping off in the near future,” Clark says. “Our backlog for 2020 and even into 2021 is higher than it’s ever been and in multiple market sectors – healthcare, education and hospitality. We are using this time to invest in technologies and processes that will make us better, more efficient, and more prepared to weather the next downturn.”
As for the future of construction in Arkansas, Marlin is optimistic that the current growth will continue in the years to come.
“There has been a lot of progress in construction in Arkansas over the years – progress in safety, progress in training and progress in completing a project more efficiently with technology,” he says. “As I talk with many of my counterparts around the state, I am hearing that the construction market is strong and looks to remain that way for the foreseeable future. I am glad to be able to say that I have been a part of the construction industry in the state of Arkansas.”
Below are the details behind five of the largest construction projects in Arkansas and the companies behind them.
Walmart Headquarters – Bentonville
In mid-May, Walmart revealed its plans for a new home office in Northwest Arkansas. The new campus will be split into four quadrants that will integrate bike and walking trails from greater Bentonville.
The 350-acre site for the new headquarters has some warehouses and office buildings that have been used for the last several years, however they will be demolished to make way for the new facility. Demolition, infrastructure and utility construction are slated to begin this summer, with support and office buildings planned to start being built over the next 18-24 months.
“We’re not sharing the estimated total cost of the new home office, but it will be true to the company’s everyday low-cost roots,” says Anne Hatfield, Walmart’s director of central U.S. state and local communications.
“Arkansas has been good to us, and there’s nowhere else we’d rather call home,” Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon says in a press release. “When I imagine the next 60 years, I can’t help but smile at the possibilities.”
Walmart’s current goal is to have the new headquarters fully operational by 2024.
Simmons Foods Processing
Facility – Decatur
Simmons Foods Processing, a Siloam Springs based poultry producer, is constructing a $300 million, 350,000-square-foot plant in Decatur that is expected to open by 2022.
C.R. Crawford Construction of Fayetteville is the general contractor managing the construction project. The Arkansas Department of Transportation is working to widen Highway 59 to accommodate expected traffic to and from the new facility.
Simmons Foods forecasts the new facility will employ 1,500 people when the plant opens later this year and will increase to 2,300 by 2022. The plant’s payroll is expected to be near $86 million annually.
Simmons goal for this new facility is to create an environment that offers the newest production technologies as well as having ergonomically-designed work spaces. The company expects the ability to yield 850 million pounds of poultry meat annually when the facility is at full operation.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to construct a state-of-the-art facility that will not only allow Simmons Prepared Foods to continue to be a leader in the marketplace but will also serve as an economic development engine in Northwest Arkansas,” Phil Jones, project executive at C.R. Crawford, says. “The jobs that will be created as this facility is brought online will positively impact over a thousand families in Northwest Arkansas, and we could not be more excited to be a part of something this significant and far reaching.”
Southland Park Gaming & Racing – West Memphis
Southland Park Gaming & Racing recently announced a $250 million investment to expand their casino gaming and dog racing operation in West Memphis. The plans include a casino and 20-story hotel, which will make it the tallest structure in Crittenden County. The hotel will have 300 rooms, including 216 standard rooms, 72 corner suites and 12 penthouse suites.
When completed, the facility will have 2,500 electronic gambling machines and 60 card and roulette tables. New restaurants will be added, and the current buffet restaurant will be expanded. Parking will also expand with the addition of a covered garage with 1,250 spaces.
The project is being directed by Mississippi-based Roy Anderson Corp Contractors, a subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corporation. The expansion will create 400 jobs, increasing total employment at Southland to 1,200.
The project is slated to be completed by January 2021.
Delaware North currently owns Southland after purchasing the business in the 1970s.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson called the project “the largest investment in the tourism industry in the history of Arkansas, as far as I know.”
Southwest High School – Little Rock
The Little Rock School District is currently building its first high school in 50 years. The $103.4 million Southwest High School is being constructed by Nabholz Construction, Doyne Construction and Carson & Associates.
“When completed, the 400,000-square-foot school will feature large classrooms, shared collaboration spaces, simulation labs, virtual classroom technology and maker spaces,” says Hannah Williams, Nabholz’s marketing coordinator. “Additionally, a 1,200-seat auditorium and other performing arts spaces, including a black box theater and two dance studios, will round out the interior features of the building.”
The 55-acre campus will combine students from McClellan and J.A. Fair high schools as well as 300 students at Hall High School who will be zoned for Southwest, creating a total student count of more than 2,200.
The school’s athletic facilities are planned to serve as a host for the region and will feature a combined football and soccer field, indoor and outdoor practice fields and a field house, an arena-size gymnasium, track and field, baseball and softball fields and tennis courts.
Southwest High School is set to open fall 2020.
Oaklawn Expansion Project – Hot Springs
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort announced a name change and plans for a $100 million expansion project in November, after casino gambling was approved in Hot Springs.
HBG Design of Memphis is working as the architectural firm, and Tulsa-based Flintco Construction, through its Springdale office, is managing the expansion project, which will include the addition of a seven-story, 200-room, 4-star hotel and spa, which overlooks the horse racing track; a 14,000 square-foot events center, that will sit adjacent to the hotel; an additional 28,000 square feet of gaming space and additional parking. On-site hotel amenities will include a swimming pool, spa, restaurant, fitness center and two presidential suites.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson wrote in a press release that the project, which will be financed exclusively with private funds, will also rank among the state’s largest economic development projects in 2019.
Flintco expects the project to create 2,300 jobs during construction. The gaming expansion is expected to be completed by January 2020 and the multi-purpose event center and hotel are slated for late 2020.