Today's Construction Pulse
Poland pushes ahead with $50B nuclear plant EPC deal
Poland is working to seal an engineering, procurement and construction contract with Westinghouse and Bechtel for its first nuclear power plant, a $50 billion, 3.6 GW project. Negotiations have slipped past the original mid‑2025 target as parties discuss construction‑risk allocation. The delay coincides with Poland’s broader push for energy diversification.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Dalmia Bharat acquires JAL cement assets for $350M
Exxon Mobil’s Golden Pass LNG Train Boosts U.S. Export Capacity as Pipeline Projects Accelerate
Exxon Mobil’s Golden Pass LNG Train 1 entered service in March, lifting U.S. LNG export capacity by roughly 5% and setting the stage for a 15% increase once all three trains are online. At the same time, DT Midstream and MasTec announced major pipeline expansions, underscoring a surge in infrastructure aimed at feeding Central and Eastern Europe as geopolitical risks tighten energy markets.
China Makes 70% of Global Plywood. Now It’s Muscling in on South Africa
Chinese-backed MSFU Wood, a Zoeyol subsidiary, is launching an eight‑site expansion in KwaZulu‑Natal that will output about 150,000 plywood boards per month and create roughly 1,000 jobs. The strategy moves China from exporting finished plywood to processing South African eucalyptus...
Indian Railways Approves ₹895.30 Crore Projects to Upgrade Kolkata Metro Power Systems and Strengthen Bridge Infrastructure
Indian Railways approved ₹895.30 crore (≈ $108 million) of projects to modernise Kolkata Metro’s power system and rebuild a key freight bridge in eastern India. The metro upgrade allocates ₹671.72 crore (≈ $81 million) for seven new traction substations and a 33 kV power boost, enabling train...
Nagpur Civic Body Approves ₹7.65 Crore for EV Bus Depots, Charging Infrastructure
Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s transport committee approved a ₹7.65 crore (≈ $918,000) package to build 33 kV feeder bays and charging infrastructure at two major bus depots. The Wathoda depot will receive an ₹80.07 lakh (≈ $96,000) feeder bay, while Khapri depot’s project is set at...
AI Boom Drives Premium Office Redesigns in London’s Knowledge Quarter
British Land is converting One Triton Square into Anthropic’s London headquarters, adding bike parking, wellness zones and hotel‑style services. The move reflects a broader PropTech trend as developers redesign office assets to lure AI‑intensive tenants, with CBRE forecasting a near‑tripling...
Jacobs Solutions, Linked to Palantir, Shortlisted for $700 Million Milwaukee Wastewater Contract
Jacobs Solutions, a Dallas engineering firm with a strategic partnership with Palantir, has been named a finalist for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s $700 million, decade‑long wastewater operations contract. The bid pits Jacobs against incumbent Veolia North America and raises questions...
Wyandotte County Approves $250 Million Battery Storage Project to Cut Kansas City Bills
Wyandotte County commissioners gave East Side Storage LLC a special‑use permit for a $250 million battery storage facility in Kansas City, Kansas. The project is slated to save ratepayers $9 million a year, generate $8 million in local earnings and create dozens of...
AI Capex Surge Threatens Data‑Center Profitability as Industry Faces Bubble Concerns
Jefferies analysts warned that AI‑driven data‑center spending now exceeds $200 billion, squeezing hyperscalers' cash flow. While developers reap productivity gains from tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code, experts question whether the massive infrastructure build‑out can sustain profitability.
From Shelters to Intelligent Buildings: Greenole’s Innovation at Web Summit Vancouver
Greenole will present at the Growth Stage of Web Summit Vancouver on May 13, showcasing its AI‑driven operational intelligence platform for buildings. The company argues that traditional structures operate in fragmented silos, leading to energy waste, reduced equipment life, and...
BACnet Controller Supports Continued Development of an Interoperable HVAC Training Platform
Francisco Barrantes won a Contemporary Controls BAScontrol‑E36 edge controller at AHR Expo 2025 and used it to build a hands‑on HVAC training platform. The demo unit replicates a variable‑pressure air handling system with a centrifugal fan, VFD, and PID loop...
Port of NY/NJ Begins Bus Terminal Replacement
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has begun placing 139 steel girders for the Dyer Avenue deck‑overs, a key step in the Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement project. The girders, each up to 81 feet long and weighing 60,000‑80,000 pounds, will...
Simple EV Charger Installs May Be a Thing of the Past Due to New Rules, Says Industry Expert
New UK wiring regulations (Amendment 4) took effect in 2026, making home EV charger installations far more complex. Installers must now assess load management, circuit protection, earthing and integration with the whole‑home electrical system. The tighter safety standards leave little room...
Underestimate at Your Peril — Hormuz Chokes Tropical Hardwood Supply
The February 28 closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a severe diesel shortage in Malaysia and Indonesia, pushing industrial diesel prices up 140% and crippling the region’s tropical hardwood supply chain. Logging concessions, log carriers and sawmills are...
Hawai’i’s Mass Timber ‘Hale’ Is Designed to Manage the Tide
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa architecture students unveiled ‘The Hale,’ a curved‑gable mass‑timber civic pavilion designed to withstand sea‑level rise and storm surges on Honolulu’s Kakaʻako shoreline. The structure combines cross‑laminated timber, glulam, marine‑grade coatings, rainscreen façades and protected steel...
GS Architecture Finishes Passivhaus Retrofit of Victorian Home in Hampstead Heath
GS Architecture has completed a full Passivhaus EnerPHit retrofit of a semi‑detached Victorian house on Hampstead Heath, installing triple‑glazed windows, a timber‑framed extension and a green roof while slashing the home’s energy use. The project showcases a fabric‑first approach that...
Rogers, Ark. Unveils Mixed‑Use Hub to Give Small Businesses Dedicated Space
Rogers, Arkansas announced a mixed‑use development that will set aside retail and office space for small, community‑focused businesses in the city’s expanding business hub. The project responds to growing demand for flexible work‑live environments, highlighted by Colliers Arkansas’ need for...
Okibo NEWS: PCI Partnership Expansion
Okibo announced a national expansion of its partnership with Performance Contracting, Inc. (PCI), adding new EG7 and EG7+ autonomous drywall‑finishing robots to PCI’s fleet for high‑priority builds across the United States. The EG7+ can reach 24 feet, making it ideal for...
MasTec Posts 34% Revenue Jump in Q1 2026, Backlog Hits $20.3B Record
MasTec (MTZ) announced a 34% year‑over‑year revenue increase to $3.829 billion in Q1 2026, driven by double‑digit growth in every core segment. The company lifted full‑year guidance to $17.5 billion in revenue, underscoring strong demand for power delivery, clean energy and pipeline...
TC Energy Launches $1.5 B Appalachia Supply Project to Meet Soaring U.S. Gas Demand
TC Energy Corp. unveiled the $1.5 billion Appalachia Supply Project, a low‑risk expansion of its Columbia Gas system aimed at the high‑growth power and industrial corridor in the United States. The move follows record natural‑gas deliveries, a 3% quarterly volume rise...
S. A. Miro, Inc.- Data Centers From a Structural Engineers Perspective
Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become the essential framework for data‑center projects, where mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems dominate design decisions. Structural engineers must adapt framing, columns, and foundations to accommodate dense MEP routing, making coordination a critical constraint....
MP Materials to Build $1.25B Texas Magnet Campus
MP Materials plans a $1.25bn Texas magnet campus to expand US rare earth magnet capacity. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/mp-materials-magnet-campus-in-texas.html
Robots Accelerate Solar Panel Installation, Boost Safety
#Robots Take Over Solar Panel Installation for Faster, Safer Deployment by @lukas_m_ziegler Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #MI #ML #Tech #Innovation https://t.co/WxnNRgVW0E
Kaliun Challenges Top CRMs With AI Construction Platform
Kaliun, an AI‑powered construction management platform, is entering the residential CRM market to challenge incumbents like Buildertrend, Jobber, ServiceTitan and JobTread. Founded by Florida contractor Tomer Amar, the platform was built from the ground up with AI at its core,...
Peruvian Entrepreneur Profits From Drone Facade Cleaning
Peruvian Entrepreneur Earns Big with #Drone-Powered Building Facade Cleaning by @Arcfunmi #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/k2zviLLrIU
Military Permit Derails South Korea’s Anma Offshore Wind Project
The 532 MW Anma offshore wind farm, a $3.5 billion project slated for 2029 completion, has stalled because its site overlaps a military weapons‑testing area, preventing the required public waters permit. Major suppliers SK Oceanplant and LS Cable & System have suspended...
MSC, Tradepoint Begin Work on First Private US Terminal in Decades
Mediterranean Shipping Company’s terminal arm and real‑estate developer Tradepoint Atlantic broke ground on the Sparrows Point Container Terminal at the Port of Baltimore, marking the first privately built U.S. container terminal in four decades. The ceremony, attended by Maryland Governor...
Trump Pushes ‘Peace Pipelines’ to Boost Exports of Climate-Busting LNG to Europe
The Trump administration announced a series of “Peace Pipelines” agreements at the Three Seas Initiative summit, aiming to accelerate U.S. LNG exports to Central and Eastern Europe as a substitute for Russian gas. The Department of Energy says U.S. natural‑gas...
Faulkner Architects Debuts Fire‑Resistant Corten‑Steel Pine Flat Residence in Healdsburg
Faulkner Architects unveiled the Pine Flat Residence, a three‑bedroom, two‑storey home clad in fire‑resistant Corten steel on a steep Healdsburg slope. Built on the foundation of a house destroyed in the 2019 Kincade Fire, the design incorporates ember screens, exterior...
How Boulevard Heights Project Aimed at First-Time Buyers Is Selling
The Heights on Boulevard, a 1160 Boulevard infill development in Atlanta’s southside, wrapped construction in March and has already sold or contracted 40% of its 18 townhomes. Priced between $339,900 and $359,900, the one‑bedroom, 1,056‑sq‑ft units open onto the newly completed...
DCF Poll: Risks in the Data Center Pipeline
The data‑center industry is announcing gigawatt‑scale capacity faster than ever, but the real challenge lies in delivering that capacity. Power agreements, demand forecasts, construction complexity, and utility permitting are emerging as coordination bottlenecks. The gap between announced and actual deliverable...
AGC's Data DIGest: April 27-May 1, 2026
The Associated General Contractors’ (AGC) latest data shows construction employment rose in 52% of U.S. metros year‑over‑year, with Houston adding 11,200 jobs while New York City shed 6,600. Housing starts rebounded in March, climbing 10.8% month‑over‑month and nearly 9% year‑over‑year,...
Events Company Skylight Expands By 11K SF at Two Trees’ Refinery at Domino
Two Trees Management announced that its Williamsburg project, The Refinery at Domino, has reached 90% occupancy after securing two new leases in late April. Event‑space operator Skylight expanded its footprint by 11,000 sq ft, bringing its total to 13,600 sq ft across the 14th...
Over‑prescriptive Zoning Stifles Growth; Let Developers Build
Want to expand on this a bit: There is an area of LA called the Cornfields, NE of Downtown. It was rezoned in ~'13 into an urban planner's dream... they got rid of parking minimums but decided to dictate all *kinds*...
New Tech Streamlines Road Repair and Construction
#Innovation and new equipment makes road repair and road construction easier and more efficient. (GiGadgets) #Technology https://t.co/rHEGV9DjQT
Manufactured Homes Market Set to Hit $42.7 Billion by 2031
Mordor Intelligence projects the global manufactured‑homes market to expand from $30.5 billion in 2024 to $42.7 billion by 2031, a 6.97% compound annual growth rate. Factory‑built homes cost 60‑65% less than site‑built homes, with an average price of $123,000 versus over $300,000...
CDE's New ModaLine Washing Plant Is Pre-Assembled for Quick On-Site Set-Up
CDE Group has unveiled the first unit of its new ModaLine, a containerised sand‑washing plant designed for plug‑and‑play deployment. The pre‑assembled system reduces on‑site construction time by more than 60% versus legacy models and ships in ISO‑standard containers. It delivers...
MAG, Global Holdings Plot Hudson Square Resi Tower
MAG Partners and Global Holdings have signed a long‑term ground lease for Trinity Church’s 122 Varick Street site in Hudson Square. The developers will construct a 192,000‑square‑foot mixed‑use tower with 149 rental units, at least 25% of which must be...
DFW Build-To-Rent Absorption Surges As National Market Slows
Dallas‑Fort Worth has become the nation’s No. 2 build‑to‑rent (BTR) market, absorbing over 4,000 units in 2025 while vacancy slipped to 6.3%. The region’s average BTR rent sits at $2,130—about $600 above standard apartments and $900 below a median mortgage payment—showcasing...
Frisco’s $1.5B Firefly Park Taking Shape
Wilks Development’s $1.5 billion Firefly Park mixed‑use project in north Frisco is moving forward, with Phase 1 slated for completion between late 2027 and early 2028. The first phase will add 120,000 sq ft of retail, 170,000 sq ft of Class A office, 233 high‑rise apartments, 187...
BIPV Facades' Performance in Enclosure Fire Tests
How BIPV façades behave under enclosure fire conditions #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/MokE22nEwJ
Vacant Jamaica Plain Church to Be Repurposed Into Mixed-Use Project
Pennrose and the Hyde Square Task Force broke ground on the Blessed Sacrament redevelopment, converting a vacant 1913 historic church in Boston’s Jamaica Plain into a mixed‑use, mixed‑income community slated for completion by the end of 2027. The project will...
Blackstone's QTS Files Appeal To Save Massive Virginia Data Center Campus
Blackstone's data‑center arm QTS filed a last‑minute appeal to overturn a Virginia Court of Appeals ruling that blocked the rezoning of its 2,100‑acre PW Digital Gateway project in Prince William County. The appeal, lodged just under three hours before the...
Chilean Entrepreneur Transforming Salmon-Farming Waste Into Insulated Panels for Homes
Chilean firm Aysén Recircular has devised a circular‑economy process that transforms expanded polystyrene (EPS) buoys from salmon‑farming operations into structural insulated panels (SIPs) for housing. To date the company has reclaimed roughly 88 metric tons of EPS—about 6,000 m³—into more than...
British Land Announces Significant New Retail and Leisure Development at Glasgow Fort
British Land has lodged a planning application to add 60,000 sq ft to Glasgow Fort, marking one of the UK’s first major retail‑leisure expansions since 2020. The proposal includes a 32,000 sq ft enlargement of Marks & Spencer, which would become the largest M&S store in Scotland....
State DOTs Take On Big Challenges From A $2.3B Bridge To Wrong-Way Alerts
State transportation departments are tackling major projects and safety challenges. Louisiana has broken ground on a $2.3 billion I‑10 bridge replacement that will add lanes, improve a key energy corridor, and generate over 16,000 jobs. Pennsylvania is piloting a real‑time wrong‑way...
BridgeCity Capital Lends $38M for Prospect Heights Apartments Build
BridgeCity Capital has extended a $37.6 million acquisition‑and‑construction loan to Ranco Capital for a mixed‑use development at 1084 Pacific Street in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights. The project will deliver 71 residential units and roughly 48,000 sq ft of retail space on a site Ranco purchased for...
Signorelli Co. Starts Final Phase Of Valley Ranch: The Houston Deal Sheet
Signorelli Co. broke ground on the Azalea District, the final single‑family expansion of the 1,400‑acre Valley Ranch master‑planned community in New Caney. The 328‑acre project will deliver 359 homes on 203 residential acres, with an adjacent 125‑acre parcel earmarked for healthcare‑focused...
TC Energy Plans Major Appalachian Pipeline Expansion to Meet Surging Power Demand
TC Energy announced a $1.5 billion expansion of its Columbia Gas system to link Appalachian Basin gas supplies with the rising demand for natural‑gas‑fired power in the PJM Interconnection. The project, scalable to 2 billion cubic feet per day, aims to serve...
Infrastructure Spending Plunges 40% in January-February
The Philippines' Department of Budget and Management reported that state infrastructure spending plunged 40.1% in January‑February 2026, falling to ₱88.7 bn ($1.6 bn) from ₱148.3 bn ($2.7 bn) a year earlier. The decline is linked to delayed billing claims, ongoing completion of prior‑year projects,...
Coatue's Next Frontier Secures Land for AI Data Centers
Coatue doesn’t just want to back the hottest AI companies. It wants to get in at the ground level—literally. Its new venture, Next Frontier, is buying land for data centers. Among its first projects is a JV with Fluidstack to build...