Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! Just like a jobsite that’s always evolving, we’re back with fresh insights, updates, and a few fun twists to keep you in the loop. Whether you're busy laying foundations or keeping your projects on schedule, we've got the info you need to stay ahead!

PROJECTS

Major Project Announcement: $10 Billion Compass Datacenters Breaks Ground

This week Compass Datacenters broke ground on their state-of-the-art hyperscale data center in Meridian, Mississippi. The campus is set to consist of 8 buildings spanning over 250,000 sqft each with 40MW of IT capacity. This groundbreaking project is expected to span over an 8-year period, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

• Client: Compass Datacenters

• General Contractor: Undisclosed

• Award: Data Center

• Value: Up to $10 Billion

• Location: Meridian, Mississippi

Project Announcement: Gemstone Technology Park

Plans have been announced for the Gemstone Technology Park, a 620-acre data center campus in Idaho. The project is currently in its development stages, with the land undergoing rezoning. The development is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the area, including up to 1,200 construction jobs during the building phase and over 100 permanent operational positions upon completion. The project is expected to break ground later this year, and is planned to be developed in phases over the next decade.

• Owner: TBC

• Developer: Diode Ventures | A Black & Veatch Company

• Sector: Data Centers

• Investment Value: $1 Billion +

• Location: Kuna, Idaho

Project Announcement: $750 Million QTS Data Center, Iowa

QTS Data Centers recently announced plans to build a new data center facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Last week the development agreement was officially executed by Cedar Rapids City Council. Construction of the facility is set to be built on 560 acres, located at the Big Cedar Industrial Park. Each development phase is expected to include one or more data center buildings, totaling approximately 300,000-1.4 million square feet.

• Owner: QTS Data Centers

• Sector: Data Center

• Investment Value: $750 million

• Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Major Project Update: $16 Billion Amazon Data Center in Mississippi

Recently, it was announced the original investment of $10B from Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been increased by 60% to $16B. The main reasons for this increase seem to be due to the escalating costs associated with AI infrastructure, advanced servers, and other tech components. The project will still consist of two major data center campuses in Madison County and create at least 1,000 high-paying jobs in the region. Facilities are expected to be operational by 2027.

• Client: Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• General Contractors Gray / Yates Construction / The Haskell Company

• Electrical Contractor: MMR Group

• Award: Data Center

• Value: Up to $16 Billion

• Location: Canton, Mississippi

Project Announcement: Microsoft SAT82 Data Center

Microsoft's SAT82 Data Center is a $482.6 million project, spanning 244,676 sqft, and is part of Microsoft's ongoing expansion in the San Antonio region. This project is one of three new Microsoft data centers in the area, alongside SAT80 and SAT81, which are also under development. Construction is set to begin in April 2026, with completion expected by February 2028.

• Owner: Microsoft

• Sector: Data Center

• Investment Value: $482.6 million

• Location: Castroville, Texas

NEWS

The Trump Effect on Renewable Energy, Housing & Labor

Under President Trump's administration, several construction sectors are anticipated to face challenges.

The renewable energy sector, particularly wind and solar projects, may experience setbacks due to policy shifts favoring traditional energy sources. For instance, the "Unleashing American Energy" order aims to expedite power projects but notably excludes wind and solar energy, which currently supply about 14% of the nation's power.

The residential construction sector is also under pressure from proposed tariffs on imported building materials. Homebuilder stocks, including D.R. Horton, Lennar Corporation, Toll Brothers, and PulteGroup, experienced declines of over 3% due to concerns.

Stricter immigration policies could increase labor shortages in the construction industry, approximately 26% of construction workers are immigrants, and 13% are unauthorized, the largest share of any sector. A reduction in the labor force due to stricter immigration policies could raise construction wages and increase cost inflation.

These factors suggest that renewable energy projects, residential construction, and sectors dependent on immigrant labor may face significant challenges under the current administration.

Trade Wars & Price Hikes

The Trump administration's recent imposition of tariffs including 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on imports from China, has raised concerns about increased construction costs, potentially making homes more expensive. 

The National Association of Home Builders warns that these tariffs could significantly impact housing affordability, especially affecting first-time homebuyers and low-income families. However, some U.S.-based manufacturers and suppliers may benefit from reduced competition, potentially leading to increased domestic production. 

The effects of these tariffs are expected to unfold throughout 2025, with home prices likely rising in the second half of the year as builders adjust their supply chains and pricing strategies.

WORLD

Real Madrid Stadium Renovation, Santiago Bernabéu

The renovation of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was an ambitious €1.17 billion project, significantly surpassing its initial €525 million estimate. Rising costs were driven by construction challenges, global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, and material price increases.

Now, the stadium stands as a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue with a retractable roof and pitch storage system, allowing it to host concerts, esports, and corporate events beyond football. The modernized facade, expanded VIP areas, and 360-degree video scoreboard elevate the fan experience, while advanced technology boosts event operations.

Real Madrid expects the stadium to generate significant revenue, making it a global icon of sports architecture. With its futuristic upgrades, the Bernabéu is positioned as one of the most innovative and profitable stadiums in the world.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Modscape Leads the Modular Movement

Modscape revolutionizes construction by utilizing modular, prefabricated building techniques that increase efficiency, sustainability, and quality. By manufacturing up to 90% of structures off-site in a controlled factory environment, Modscape reduces waste, speeds up project timelines by up to 50%, and minimizes on-site disruptions.

Their precision-engineered module has high energy efficiency and durability while incorporating sustainable materials and smart design solutions. Additionally, Modscape’s innovative Modbotics system, Australia’s first robotic manufacturing line for panelized wall systems, further improves speed and consistency.

Their approach benefits residential, commercial, and healthcare sectors by delivering cost-effective, high-quality, and environmentally conscious building solutions.

AI-Driven Preconstruction with Downtobid

Downtobid is an AI-powered platform designed to streamline preconstruction processes, focusing on bid management. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the platform automates bid tracking, document management, and subcontractor selection, reducing manual effort and enhancing efficiency.

It provides real-time analytics and insights, helping general contractors and subcontractors make data-driven decisions. Downtobid also improves communication between stakeholders, ensuring smoother project coordination.

With its AI-driven approach, the platform minimizes errors, accelerates the bidding process, and increases the chances of winning profitable projects. It’s particularly beneficial for construction firms looking to optimize workflows and stay competitive in a fast-paced industry.

Downtobid was initially released on April 29, 2024.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

Structural steel beams are often referred to as:

A. Purlins // B. I-beams // C. Rebars

What does the term “subcontractor” refer to?

A. A company hired by the primary contractor // B. The main project manager // C. An employee of the client

What is “Caulking” primarily used for?

A. Provide structural support // B. Seal joints against water and air infiltration // C. Add insulation value

“Galvanized steel” is treated to resist:

A. Fire // B. Corrosion and rust // C. High temperatures only

A “building envelope commissioning” ensures what?

A. The building envelope meets performance standards // B. Only interior finishes are correct // C. Site drainage is perfect

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

THIS WEEK’S HOT JOBS

1. Electrical Project Manager - Data Centers/Mission Critical - Traveling

2. Electrical Project Manager - Data Centers/Mission Critical - Texas

3. Electrical Project Manager - Data Centers/Mission Critical - Nebraska

4. Electrical Project Manager - Data Centers - Georgia

5. Electrical Superintendent - Healthcare - Texas

6. MEP Project Manager - Healthcare - Kentucky

7. MEP Project Manager - Data Centers - Georgia

8. Mechanical Superintendent - Data Centers - Traveling

9. MEP Superintendent - Healthcare - Kentucky

10. Superintendent - Data Centers - North Carolina

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

Am I doing work that excites me?

🚧Answers

Q1 C. Rebars // Q2 A. A company hired by the primary contractor // Q3 B. Seal joints against water and air infiltration // Q4 B. Corrosion and rust // Q5 A. The building envelope meets performance standards

How many did you get?

Enjoyed TheJobWalk? Share with friends!