Today's Construction Pulse
Poland pushes ahead with $50B nuclear plant EPC talks
Poland is working to secure 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.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Dalmia Bharat acquires JAL cement assets for $350M
Microsoft Expands Partnership with NABTU to Deliver AI Training for Skilled Trades Workforce
Microsoft and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have broadened their collaboration to deliver free AI literacy courses and an industry‑recognized credential to skilled‑trade workers across the United States and Canada. Building on a prior effort that trained 1,500 instructors, the program will roll out through NABTU’s apprenticeship network and Microsoft’s LinkedIn Learning platform, reaching millions of electricians, ironworkers, pipefitters and other craft professionals. The initiative also partners with the TradesFutures nonprofit, which enrolls over 7,700 apprentices annually in 34 states, to expand awareness of AI‑enhanced construction careers. The effort aligns with Microsoft’s Community‑First AI Infrastructure, aiming to ensure the trades workforce shares in the AI‑driven economy.
S. A. Miro Inc: Early BIM Key to Data Center Design
Building Information Modeling (BIM) has moved from a visual aid to a project‑critical platform for data center design. Because mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems dominate structural decisions, early BIM coordination uncovers conflicts that would otherwise cause costly rework. Templates...
Meta Launches $1 Billion Tulsa Data Center
Meta Platforms $META has broken ground on a new $1 Billion data center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
GCT, Vancouver Port to Jointly Study Roberts Bank Terminal Project
Global Container Terminals (GCT) and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly study the development of a proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2. The one‑year exclusive study will let the parties share data and negotiate...
The New Word in Home Construction Could Be “Plastics”
MIT engineers have demonstrated that recycled PET mixed with glass fibers can be 3D‑printed into structural building components. In laboratory tests, four printed floor trusses carried over 4,000 lb, surpassing U.S. HUD standards while weighing only about 13 lb each. The process...
Richmond Authority Seeks $19 Million in Bonds for Grace Street Rehab Projects
The Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) is asking the city council to approve $19 million in bonds for two downtown Grace Street rehabilitation projects. The financing would support the conversion of the former Tiffanie’s Manor into senior housing and the...
Retevis Unveils UHF Radio System to Eradicate Dead Zones on Construction Sites
Retevis has rolled out a new UHF two‑way radio and repeater solution designed to remove communication blind spots on multi‑story and underground construction projects. The RT97L repeater paired with the RT29 radio promises stronger signal penetration through concrete, steel and...
Costco Sets Pace for 30 New Warehouses a Year, Targets Underserved Markets
Costco announced a long‑range plan to open at least 30 new warehouses annually, with 28 slated for 2026, while sealing a $6 million deal for a 170,000‑sq‑ft store in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The rollout balances U.S. fill‑in locations with overseas...
Dextall Unveils Kora Studio, AI Platform Cutting 315 Hours From Facade Design
Dextall opened early access to Kora Studio, an AI‑driven, Revit‑native facade design platform that eliminates an average of 315 hours of manual coordination on mid‑ and high‑rise projects. The tool integrates directly into Revit, automatically propagating design changes and generating...
Nice Côte D’Azur Airport Inaugurates Terminal 2 Extension for Enhanced Passenger Experience
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has opened a 23,000 sqm extension to Terminal 2, raising its annual capacity from 14 million to 18 million passengers. The first phase, completed ahead of the 2025 summer season, adds a larger non‑Schengen lounge, a new passport‑control zone, retail...
California Contractor Ordered to Pay $468K in Wage Theft Case
A California contractor, SCA General Contracting, was ordered to pay $468,505 in back wages and damages to 137 construction workers after a Department of Labor investigation uncovered minimum‑wage and overtime violations from November 2024 through November 2025. The consent judgment...
Race Communications Breaks Ground on Bakersfield Fiber Network
Race Communications announced the start of construction on a new fiber‑optic network in Bakersfield, aiming to bring high‑speed, future‑proof internet to more than 50,000 homes and businesses. The rollout will offer symmetrical speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, with the...
Medcem Sets Fall Production Date for Florida Plant
Turkish cement maker Medcem will launch commercial production at its brownfield clinker‑grinding plant in western Florida by September, marking its first U.S. manufacturing footprint. The facility, equipped with two grinding mills, can ultimately process 40 mt per hour per line, delivering...
Connolly Completes $70 Million Parkside on Dresden Mixed-Use Community in Metro Atlanta
Atlanta‑based developer Connolly has finished Parkside on Dresden, a $70 million mixed‑use community in Brookhaven, Georgia. The 4‑acre project comprises 176 luxury apartments, seven townhomes, a six‑level parking structure and 28,000 sq ft of ground‑level retail that is already fully leased to a...
India’s Infrastructure Investments to Surge 50% Despite Global Uncertainties: Crisil Ratings
Crisil Ratings forecasts India’s infrastructure spending to jump 45‑50% over the next two fiscal years, reaching roughly $277‑$289 billion by FY2026‑27. The surge will be spread across roads, renewables, data centres, smart‑metering, green hydrogen and real estate, with renewables adding 50‑55 GW...
PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, AMERICAN AIRLINES AND ASUR AIRPORTS TO CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY...
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, together with American Airlines, ASUR Airports and Phoenix Infrastructure Group, opened a $125 million commercial program in JFK’s Terminal 8. The program features more than 60 new dining, retail, duty‑free and experiential concepts,...
When the Building Knows More than the People Running It
The Monday Live session examined AI’s role at the purpose and operations layers of building management, emphasizing that executive questions about performance and space usage remain unchanged while AI shortens the lag between query and answer. Participants highlighted the need...
Podcast #46: Smart Building ROI Is a Risk Management Problem
Commercial real estate spends heavily on smart‑building tech, yet ROI often falls short of projections. Fred Gordy of KMC Controls and Rob Murchison argue the shortfall stems from unmanaged operational‑technology risk, weak governance, and invisible assets rather than faulty technology....
Clean Building Performance Webinar Series and New and Updated Guidance Documents
The Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) is hosting a webinar on May 6, 2025, to guide owners of Tier 1 buildings—those over 220,000 sq ft—through the compliance application process via the Clean Buildings Portal. The session will cover portal access, shared‑access setup,...
Exclusive: Commemorating Earth Day
Construction Canada highlighted CGC Inc.'s proprietary Take‑Back program, which recycles clean drywall scrap into new gypsum board without sacrificing performance. In Montreal, the initiative diverted over 40 tonnes of gypsum—equivalent to about 1,800 lightweight sheets—and avoided roughly 4,860 kg of CO₂e...
ICE Is Planning New Fast-Track Construction Contracts
ICE has issued a market‑research notice on SAM.gov to create a portfolio of single‑award, indefinite‑delivery/indefinite‑quantity construction contracts (SACC) that can design, build, renovate, and demolish its facilities over the next five years. The agency plans to award several contracts under...
Amtrak to Get $4.7B for Northeast Corridor Projects, Opens Bids for New Long-Distance Trains
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $4.7 billion in grants for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and $2 billion for nationwide passenger and freight rail upgrades, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The first round targets New York Penn Station and...
Safehold Working to Fill Affordable Housing Financing Gap in Texas & Beyond
Safehold, Inc. (NYSE: SAFE) is using its modern 99‑year ground‑lease model to close the financing gap for affordable housing, starting with a 348‑unit development in Austin slated for 2028. The deal marks Safehold’s first Texas affordable project and its 20th...
Kiewit JV Picked for Segment of $7B Texas Light Rail
Austin Transit Partnership awarded a joint venture led by Kiewit Building Group and Austin Commercial the contract to build the operations and maintenance facility for its inaugural light‑rail system. The overall project is valued between $6.8 billion and $7.1 billion, funded by...
Design Team Selected for New Event Park
Architecture firms DIALOG and HNTB have been chosen to design downtown Edmonton’s new Event Park, a world‑class indoor‑outdoor entertainment destination. The selection follows an RFP led by OEG Sports & Entertainment and the City of Edmonton, replacing the current Fan...
$1B Virginia Airport Upgrade Project Reaches Milestone
Norfolk International Airport announced a milestone in its $1 billion TransformORF modernization, unveiling a three‑gate expansion in Concourse A that adds nearly 19,000 square feet of space. The new gates, designated A10‑A12, will initially serve American Airlines, with Breeze Airways slated to...
San Diego Council Approves 985‑Unit Collection at Cactus Near Border
San Diego’s planning commission voted unanimously to green‑light the 985‑unit Collection at Cactus development in Otay Mesa, a mixed‑use project that will deliver 313 for‑sale townhomes and 672 rental units on a 40‑acre site less than a mile from the...
Midterms Drive State Competition for AI Data Centers as Local Opposition Rises
State leaders are courting AI data‑center projects as the 2026 midterm elections approach, but growing community resistance is turning data‑center siting into a hot‑button political issue. The clash pits economic incentives against local concerns over power, water and environmental impact.
Develon Reveals 2 New Compact Track Loaders: DTL26 and DTL30
Develon unveiled two new compact track loaders, the DTL26 and DTL30, slated for U.S. release later this year. Both models are powered by the company’s 71.4‑horsepower D24 diesel engine, which operates without diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). The machines are smaller...
The Path to a Unified Building OS: Are We There Yet?
Smart building operators are grappling with fragmented dashboards and siloed data across HVAC, lighting, security and other systems. Industry leaders, citing Johnson Controls' 2026 trends report, say the next wave will demand open‑standard platforms that unify data without layered tools....
$6 Billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel Project Drives 16km Construction in Baltimore
The $6 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel Project is replacing the 150‑year‑old Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel, a critical choke point on the Northeast Corridor that carries roughly 14 million passengers each year. Engineers are constructing two parallel high‑speed tubes capable of 160 km/h while keeping...
U.S. Hyperscalers Shift Market Build-Out Targets to the Midwest and Texas
U.S. hyperscalers are redirecting data‑center build‑outs toward Texas and the Midwest, with more than half of new capacity expected in these regions by the end of 2025. Amazon announced a $15 billion investment for 2.4 GW of capacity in northern Indiana, while...
Bell AI Data Center in Canada Approved Amid Public Opposition, To Start Construction This Spring
Bell Canada secured council approval for a 300 MW hyperscale AI data center near Regina, Saskatchewan, despite vocal public opposition. The facility, part of Bell’s national “AI Fabric” strategy, is slated for phased construction with initial operations targeted for 2027. Bell...
Generative AI Cuts Building Energy Use 10‑20%
Beyond The Hype: The True ROI Of Generative AI In Building Operations “The AI does not just monitor, it anticipates. If a sudden heatwave is forecasted for 2:00 PM, the AI might pre-cool the building at 10:00 AM when energy...
Sterling & Wilson Launch 875MW Rajasthan Solar Project
Sterling and Wilson to build 875MW solar project in Rajasthan #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/GDZUzNL1Wo
Final Burke Lakefront Hearing Sharpens Closure Debate
Cleveland City Council wrapped up hearings on Mayor Justin Bibb’s plan to shut down the 450‑acre Burke Lakefront Airport. Officials and the nonprofit North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. presented early‑stage concepts ranging from parks and trails to hotels, a marina,...
Housing Sector Buzz: Multiple Acquisitions Signal Rising Value
Worth noting the activity picking up in housing sector: $QXO acquires $BLD, $TOL acquires assets from Buffington Homes of Arkansas (it's 16th acquisition since 1995 btw) and $HD adds Mingledorff last month. Some see value in this industry.
Houston Suburb Dodges 25% Lot‑size Hike, Averting Housing Squeeze
Is Texas on the California trajectory? A large Houston suburb very narrowly avoided arbitrarily increasing minimum lot sizes by 25%, which would have made it even harder to build affordable single-family homes. https://t.co/T8TzIvzdwg
$2.3bn+ Sable Oil Pipeline Restart in California Tentatively Blocked Despite Federal Backing
The $2.3 billion Sable oil pipeline restart on California's Central Coast has been halted by a federal judge, who upheld a preliminary injunction requiring compliance with state and local regulations. The Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to force the...
Carollo Selected for Construction Management of Nevada’s First Advanced Purified Water Facility
Truckee Meadows Water Authority has tapped Carollo Engineers, backed by DOWL, to manage construction of Nevada’s first Advanced Purified Water Facility, a $200 million project. The plant will use an ozone‑biological‑carbon treatment train to produce Category A+ water, a more energy‑efficient alternative...
The Home Upgrade Adding Thousands to UK Property Values Without an Extension
Homeowners in the UK are opting to add garden rooms instead of traditional extensions as moving costs stay high and remote work drives demand for flexible space. Garden rooms provide a separate, usable area for offices, gyms or studios without...
Redevelopment Projects Still in Planning Phases Create Industry Opportunities Nationwide
U.S. cities are moving forward with large‑scale redevelopment plans that blend mixed‑use districts, public‑private partnerships, and destination‑driven assets. Projects range from Omaha’s $400 million stadium‑centered district to Boston’s $550 million housing‑focused revitalization, each still in early planning stages. The initiatives aim to...
GasEntec Secures Contract for LNG Terminal in Senegal
GasEntec has been awarded a contract by ELTON Logistics to build a jetty‑based LNG regasification terminal in Dakar, Senegal. The facility will include a 137,000 m³ storage tank, two 15 km subsea pipelines and ten truck‑loading bays, feeding the country’s largest 300 MW...
270-MW Blevins Solar Project Comes Online in Texas
Geronimo Power announced that its 270‑MW Blevins Solar Project in Falls County, Texas, is now online. The facility fulfills two power purchase agreements with Fujifilm and Bristol Myers Squibb, marking the companies' shift toward renewable electricity. Over its 20‑year lifespan,...
Why Dekton Awake Worktops Are Gaining Popularity in Modern UK Kitchens
Dekton Awake worktops are gaining traction in modern UK kitchens as a premium engineered surface that replicates high‑end marble while delivering superior durability. The material resists heat, scratches, stains and UV exposure, making it suitable for high‑traffic islands and outdoor...
How Is Concrete Reclamation Getting Faster?
Ready‑mix producers are adopting closed‑loop concrete reclamation systems that cut processing time from several hours to under 30 minutes. The new technology captures, filters, and re‑conditions wash water on‑site, achieving up to 95% cement recovery while slashing water use by...
The Surprising Differences in Construction Across the UK’s Biggest Cities
Construction practices vary sharply among the UK’s largest cities, driven by distinct histories, land availability, climate, and regulatory environments. In London, scarce, expensive land and strict height and heritage rules push developers toward redevelopment and tight‑site logistics. Manchester leans on...
$4B Affordable Housing Initiative Launches in New York City
New York City announced a four‑year, $4 billion Housing Investment Initiative, doubling pension fund allocations to affordable housing. The plan earmarks $750 million for mixed‑income development and office‑to‑housing conversions, $500 million for a public‑private apartment rehabilitation program, and additional funds for large‑scale projects...
EPA Rollback Eases Permit Requirements but Adds Risk
President Trump’s administration rescinded the EPA’s 2009 greenhouse‑gas endangerment finding, stripping the legal foundation for federal climate regulation. Construction attorneys say the rollback could ease permitting for large industrial and infrastructure projects by removing greenhouse‑gas analyses from the Prevention of...
Australian Cities Are Planning to Fail
Australia’s population is projected to exceed 41 million by 2066. The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) warns that without a coordinated national growth plan, major cities will face mounting housing shortages, longer commutes and heightened disaster risk. Rapid growth is already...