BOSTON – Shawmut Design and Construction, in a reversal of its outlook a few months ago, has announced plans to lay off an undisclosed number of employees. The company cited “external economic conditions,” saying it has “experienced a decrease” in its projected workload.

In a report this Wednesday, Boston Business Journal estimated that the Boston-based construction design and management firm might idle as many as 50 workers, or 5.6 percent of its total staff.

But the planned work force reductions will have “minimal impact” on the firm’s Providence office, Michael Potter, Shawmut’s managing director of marketing, told Providence Business News in an e-mail interview.

Shawmut employs about 900 people nationwide. Its local office, at 3 Davol Square, has about 35 in-office staff and another five to 10 employees at job sites across the Providence metropolitan area, the company told PBN in June. (READ MORE)

Shawmut is now working on several Rhode Island projects, including sites at Brown University and Roger Williams University.

In September, Ron Simoneau, managing director of the company’s academic construction branch, told PBN the firm was looking forward to continued growth, despite the lagging economy. “In the local New England market, Shawmut is anticipating double-digit growth through 2009, due to our strong presence in the academic and health care markets and the large backlog of work we already have lined up for the next two years,” Simoneau said at the time. (READ MORE)

But yesterday, Potter was more pessimistic: “Due to external economic conditions, Shawmut Design and Construction has experienced a decrease in projected workload now and into 2009,” he said.

“Shawmut is taking strategic steps now to remain competitive and be well-positioned when market conditions improve,” Potter continued. “The actions, which include selective reductions to our staff throughout the country, will enable Shawmut to remain strong both financially and operationally, so we can continue to be one of the nation’s leading construction firms.”

Shawmut will continue to operate its six current offices, he added.

Shawmut Design and Construction has offices in Providence, Atlantic City, Boston, Las Vegas, New Haven and New York City. Its Providence office was ranked among the 2008 Best Places To Work by Providence Business News. Additional information is available at www.shawmut.com.