Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! They say a solid foundation is the key to any great build—well, here we are at Edition 10, a big thank you to all for being part of TheJobWalk! But this is construction, there’s no time for us to sit back and admire the work. Let’s roll up our sleeves and dig into this week’s insights, industry trends, and challenges shaping the future!

PROJECTS

Project Update: $3.4 Billion Data Center "Project Ludicrous"

Project Ludicrous is a $3.4 billion data center investment in Abilene, Texas, split into two 482,000 sqft buildings situated on a 1000-acre site. More buildings will be added to the site over the next 4 years. The first building broke ground in June 2024, with an expected completion date of May 2025. The second building began construction in September 2024 and is anticipated to be completed by September 2025. This data center is the first facility to be built for the $500 billion Stargate Project.

• Occupant: Oracle

• Developer: Crusoe

• Land Owner: Lancium

• Sector: Data Centers

• Investment Value: $3.4 Billion

• Location: Abilene, Texas

Project Announcement: $470 Million+ Southwest Crossing Data Park

Ryan Companies US, Inc. has plans to develop a 3-building data center facility in Eloy, Pinal County, located just south of Phoenix, Arizona. The 400MW data center campus is planned to be constructed on a 122-acre green field site, providing 1.25 million square feet of building space. Originally, Ryan Companies had plans to build a warehouse titled "South Crossing Industrial Park", however, the project never got started and has now been renamed to "Southwest Crossing Data Park".

• General Contractors: Ryan Companies US, Inc.

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $470 Million

• Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Project Announcement: $5.4 Billion Small Modular Nuclear Reactor

Recently announced Bechtel Corporation, Sargent & Lundy and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, had won the contract to support the delivery of the first small modular reactor at the TVA nuclear site. This ground-breaking project will create thousands of jobs within construction and hundreds of operational jobs once it is complete, with its value set to be up to $5.4B. Officials plan for the plant to become commercially operational in 2033.

• Client: Tennessee Valley Authority

• General Contractor: Bechtel Corporation

• Engineering: Sargent & Lundy

• Nuclear Energy: GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

• Award: Nuclear

• Value: Up to $5.4 Billion

• Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Project Update: $4 Billion Natrium Reactor Demonstration Project

The Natrium Reactor Demonstration Project is an advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor with a 345 MW capacity and integrated molten salt energy storage. The project aims to create a flexible, carbon-free energy solution capable of supporting renewable integration and grid stability. The project was initially announced in 2021 and is expected to be operational by 2030.

• EPC Contractor: Bechtel Corporation

• Developer: TerraPower

• Technology Partner: GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

• Utility Partners: PacifiCorp, Energy Northwest, Duke Energy Corporation

• Sector: Nuclear

• Investment Value: $4 Billion

• Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

NEWS

EMCOR’s $865 Million Acquisition of Miller Electric

EMCOR Group has announced its acquisition of Miller Electric Company in a deal worth $865 million. Miller Electric, a major electrical contractor based in Jacksonville, Florida, operates across the Southeastern US and serves industries such as data centers, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Miller Electrica employs over 3,500 people and is expected to generate around $805 million in revenue for 2024. This acquisition will strengthen EMCOR’s presence in key markets and expand its electrical contracting capabilities.

The deal is set to close in the first half of 2025, further enhancing EMCOR’s position in the growing electrical and technology services sector.

DPR Construction Acquires GE Johnson

In September 2021, DPR Construction(California HQ) acquired GE Johnson(Colorado HQ), aiming to enhance strategic growth and employee development opportunities for both companies. Following the acquisition, GE Johnson continued to operate under its own name, maintaining its brand and contracting entity status.

On January 27, 2025, GE Johnson completed its brand transition and began operating under the DPR Construction name, signifying the full integration of the two companies. This integration combines GE Johnson's regional expertise in the Mountain States with DPR's national reach and resources, aiming to deliver enhanced construction projects to clients.

WORLD

Reconstruction of the Notre-Dame de Paris, France

Following the devastating fire on April 15, 2019, which destroyed Notre-Dame’s wooden roof and iconic spire, an ambitious reconstruction project was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The restoration team decided to rebuild the cathedral exactly as it was before, following the original 13th-century Gothic design. This included reconstructing the oak-framed roof and Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th-century spire, using historical materials and techniques. Over 1,000 oak trees from French forests were carefully selected to rebuild the wooden framework.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris successfully reopened to the public on December 8, 2024, however, full restoration will not be completed until 2026.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

From Bricks to Clicks, IoT Building the Future

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing construction by connecting devices, sensors, and software to enhance safety, efficiency, and cost management.

Major contractors like Bechtel, Turner, and Gilbane are using IoT for smart equipment monitoring, worker safety wearables, and concrete quality sensors from providers like Caterpillar, Triax, and Giatec.

The IoT construction market is projected to exceed $15.66 billion by 2025, with 5G, blockchain, and autonomous construction equipment driving future growth.

Finally, a Use for All Those Amazon Boxes

A new sustainable technology in construction is transforming recycled cardboard boxes into high-performance insulation. The process breaks down cardboard into cellulose fibers, treated with fire retardants and mold inhibitors.

Cellulose insulation, made from up to 85% recycled materials, provides 25% better soundproofing and higher thermal efficiency than fiberglass. With the states generating 80 million tons of cardboard waste annually, this innovation helps reduce landfill waste while lowering carbon footprints.

It is also 30% cheaper than traditional insulation and cuts energy costs by 20-50%. As sustainability gains traction, this technology is becoming a key player in green building.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

A “riser” in stairs is the:

A. Horizontal part you step on (tread) // B. Vertical component between treads // C. Handrail support

What is “Sheet piling” used to do?

A. Create temporary walls to hold back soil // B. Support roof shingles // C. Reinforce concrete floors

What does “Value engineering” focus on?

A. Increasing project cost // B. Improving function and reducing cost without sacrificing quality // C. Lowering quality to save money

“Polyethylene sheeting” under a slab-on-grade is for:

A. Decorative color // B. Moisture barrier Sound insulation // C. Moisture barrier

What is a “Sill plate”?

A. A decorative window shelf // B. The top beam in a wall // C. The bottom horizontal framing member on a foundation

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

THIS WEEK’S HOT JOBS

1. Business Development Manager, Texas, Mechanical/HVAC

2. Business Development Manager, California, Mechanical/HVAC

3. Business Development Manager, Washington D.C, Mechanical/HVAC

4. Electrical Estimator, Healthcare, Texas

5. MEP Project Manager, Data Centers, Traveling

6. MEP Project Manager, Healthcare, Kentucky

7. MEP Superintendent, Data Centers, Traveling

8. Electrical Engineer, Commercial, Texas

9. Superintendent, Data Centers, Traveling

10. BIM/VDC Manager, North Carolina

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

How can I develop a growth mindset?

🚧Answers

Q1 B. Vertical component between treads // Q2 A. Create temporary walls to hold back soil // Q3 B. Improving function and reducing cost without sacrificing quality // Q4 C. Moisture barrier // Q5 C. The bottom horizontal framing member on a foundation

How many did you get?

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