Spotlight On: Matt Leyman, Regional Director, The Beck Group
November 2024 — Invest: spoke with Matt Leyman, regional director for The Beck Group, about the highlights from the past year, what makes North Texas a great location for Beck, and the design-build firm is using technology to provide value to its clients. “I think we continue to bring more value to our clients than a lot of our competitors,” he said.
What have been the key achievements and milestones for Beck during the last year?
We completed phase one of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum at the University of Texas at Dallas and broke ground on phase 2, the performance hall. These projects are exciting for us because they are meaningful to the campus and surrounding community.
Commercially, we’re nearing completion of the Old Parkland East Campus. That project is going well. We have a great longstanding relationship with that client and look forward to that continuing in future phases.
Meanwhile, demolition has begun at the West Overlook at Harold Simmons Park. This fantastic project for the city of Dallas, which has been in the making for over 10 years, will connect the West Dallas and Oak Cliff communities to downtown. We’re excited to be a part of it alongside Trinity Park Conservancy.
In Fort Worth, we are close to wrapping up a nice project for Texas Christian University’s East Campus housing and dining hall. That will lead to a major additional development that they’re doing over the next three to five years and continuing another great longstanding relationship on their campus.
We’ve also won some awards, including the ENR Regional Best Project Award for Harwood Park and SMU Moody Hall, and AIA Dallas Design Awards for Vine Street and the stunning library at Tec de Monterrey’s Mexico City Campus.
What makes North Texas an ideal location for The Beck Group to operate in?
While Beck operates in several vibrant markets across the Sun Belt, as well as Denver and multiple offices in Mexico, Texas stands out as particularly strong. North Texas is a key part of that strength. The region’s economic growth continues to draw people and businesses, bolstered by a business-friendly environment. Additionally, North Texas benefits from a more collaborative political landscape, which enhances regional stability and business appeal.
North Texas remains a major construction market with high activity and growth potential. Proximity to DFW Airport, one of the world’s largest and busiest airports, and world-class educational institutions positions the region as a hub for future economic development, especially in emerging technologies, advanced life science, and manufacturing — all of which bolster further growth in the other commercial and institutional sectors. Emerging technology industries are increasingly eyeing the area, drawn by our region’s robust higher education network.
As North Texas continues establishing itself as a hub in the U.S. economy, the growth trajectory remains steady. For example, Dallas is set to become the new home of the Texas Stock Exchange, reflecting its growing importance in the national economic landscape. While growth may not be as rapid as in recent years, North Texas is well-positioned for continued, sustainable expansion.
How are you integrating innovations into your processes to create efficiencies for your team or to benefit your clients?
Over the past decade, we’ve developed a robust historical cost database, virtual design coordination capabilities, and advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM). These tools have garnered positive feedback from clients, especially in preconstruction, where they provide valuable insights and data early in the project. Our preconstruction activity is significant in reflecting the demand and value of these capabilities, and we’re continuously building on this foundation to enhance efficiency. Expanding our use of these technologies can streamline processes and deliver greater value across our projects.
Of course, challenges remain. Early feasibility budgeting and detailed construction preparation require significant effort, and as a design-build firm, we sometimes face compressed timelines between design completion and construction kickoff. This can limit the time available for preconstruction and stretch our resources.
To address this, we work closely with trade partners and clients to bring revenue streams forward in the project lifecycle. By doing so, we can maximize our preconstruction capabilities and deliver even better outcomes. This approach sets us apart, offering clients a value few competitors can match.
What are your plans for growth in the region, and what are your top priorities for the next two to three years?
Our growth strategy in the region centers on maintaining our core values while navigating a competitive environment. We’re committed to staying true to our values, even as we adapt to new opportunities. With 112 years of legacy here, we see ourselves playing the long game, evolving while honoring our foundational values.
Over the past five years, we’ve experienced steady growth, and our backlog for the coming year is solid. This foundation of awarded projects positions us well to continue building on our momentum.
We’re also energized by some of the major infrastructure developments discussed in Texas, such as the Texas Triangle’s high-speed rail, which promises to bring transformative connectivity and economic benefits that will seed other pockets of growth. Additionally, the upcoming World Cup will drive opportunities across the region, and we’re excited about the role we can play there.
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