Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reportable segment information
Revenues	$ 1,099,291	$ 1,030,388	$ 1,053,065	$ 992,928	$ 1,114,198	$ 1,099,393	$ 985,346	$ 912,534	$ 4,175,672	$ 4,111,471	$ 3,716,317
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										154,763
Impairment charge							(376,600)			(376,574)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	70,175	58,094	39,474	36,079	60,724	54,676	(354,174)	16,963	203,822	(221,811)	168,376
Assets	3,397,438				3,296,410				3,397,438	3,296,410	3,613,127
Capital Expenditures									45,291	43,402	68,351
Corporate
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										(45,094)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									(47,432)	(45,094)	(44,336)
Assets	576,127				727,699				576,127	727,699	604,455
Capital Expenditures									6,999	2,691	4,419
Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues									4,324,919	4,194,119	3,927,436
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										199,857
Impairment charge										(376,574)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									251,254	(176,717)	212,712
Assets	2,821,311				2,568,711				2,821,311	2,568,711	3,008,672
Capital Expenditures									38,292	40,711	63,932
Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues									(149,247)	(82,648)	(211,119)
Civil
Reportable segment information
Revenues									1,345,818	1,248,281	885,245
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										112,584
Impairment charge										(65,503)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									167,868	47,081	78,546
Assets	1,295,713				1,046,712				1,295,713	1,046,712	1,102,471
Capital Expenditures									29,497	27,037	49,892
Civil | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues									1,423,772	1,290,610	896,896
Civil | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues									(77,954)	(42,329)	(11,651)
Building
Reportable segment information
Revenues									1,470,219	1,467,910	1,825,468
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										(4,098)
Impairment charge										(282,608)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									23,799	(286,706)	46,262
Assets	610,431				669,780				610,431	669,780	1,125,632
Capital Expenditures									1,555	1,682	1,293
Building | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues									1,537,227	1,478,508	1,952,030
Building | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues									(67,008)	(10,598)	(126,562)
Specialty Contractors
Reportable segment information
Revenues									1,182,277	1,183,037	802,460
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										79,080
Impairment charge										(11,489)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									49,008	67,591	65,582
Assets	727,303				672,074				727,303	672,074	597,986
Capital Expenditures									4,137	10,201	4,727
Specialty Contractors | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues									1,182,844	1,183,518	802,535
Specialty Contractors | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues									(567)	(481)	(75)
Management Services
Reportable segment information
Revenues									177,358	212,243	203,144
(Loss) income from construction operations:
Before impairment charge										12,291
Impairment charge										(16,974)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									10,579	(4,683)	22,322
Assets	187,864				180,145				187,864	180,145	182,583
Capital Expenditures									3,103	1,791	8,020
Management Services | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues									181,076	241,483	275,975
Management Services | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues									$ (3,718)	$ (29,240)	$ (72,831)