Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! It's a wild ride out there in construction folks! With steel and aluminum tariffs kicking in next month, we're all bracing for those material costs to go through the roof…literally. On the bright side, the industry added 4,000 new jobs in January, so things are looking up. So, let’s get to work and see what’s shaping up in the world of construction this week!

PROJECTS

Project Announcement: $2 Billion Children’s Hospital in North Carolina

Last month UNC Health and Duke Health announced plans to build a $2B children's hospital in North Carolina. The campus is to be located within the Research Triangle on a 100-acre site with the specific location yet to be disclosed. It is set to be the state’s first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids and is expected to break ground by 2027.

• Client: UNC Health & Duke Health

• General Contractors: TBD

• Award: Healthcare

• Value: $2 Billion

• Location: North Carolina

Major Announcement: $20 Billion Data Center Investment

EDGNEX Data Centers is making a bold move into the US data center market with a $20 billion investment, targeting 2000 MW capacity across key states - Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. Focused on sustainability and high-performance computing, EDGNEX aims to develop, own, and operate these centers rather than occupy them. They are now set to play a vital role in the US data center market.

• Owner: DAMAC Group

• Developer: Edgnex Data Centers by DAMAC

• Sector: Data Centers

• Investment Value: $20 Billion

• Location: Nationwide

Project Announcement: $1.8 Billion Microsoft "Union City" Data Center

Last year, Microsoft announced plans to build a 2.1 million sqft hyperscale data center campus near Atlanta. Construction is currently underway on this 324 MW data center with the first phase set to be complete in 2026. So far the project has created between 400-600 construction jobs and will create 50 full-time permanent jobs once fully complete. The project is set to be completed in 2029.

• Client: Microsoft

• General Contractor: Undisclosed

• Owner: EdgeConneX

• Developer: Burr Computer Environments, INC

• Power Procurement: TA Realty

• Award: Data Center

• Value: Up to $1.8 Billion

Major Project Announcement: $1 Billion "Project Cosmos " Amazon Data Center

The City of Marysville, Ohio USA met this week to discuss plans with Amazon to build a new data center facility called Project Cosmos. The facility is set to be built on 55 acres of land, with discussions ongoing in regards to the number of data centers being constructed. It has been said that each facility is estimated to use 500,000 square feet of data center space.

• Client: Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• General Contractors: TBD

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $1 Billion

• Location: Marysville, Ohio

Under Construction: $2 Billion Vantage Data Centers Expansion

Construction is now underway on the Vantage Data Center Expansion in New Albany, Ohio. Announced in November 2024, Turner Construction is the leading contractor on the build. Titled "OH1", this new facility will be constructed on 70 acres, providing 192 megawatts of capacity across 1.5 million square feet of data center space. The project is expected to employ over 1,500 individuals throughout the construction process, as well as providing long-term opportunities once complete. The first building will be opened in 2025.

• General Contractors: Turner Construction Company

• Client: Vantage Data Centers

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $2 Billion

• Location: New Albany, Ohio

NEWS

Gary Smalley Takes Over as CEO with Tutor Perini

Gary Smalley officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Tutor Perini on January 1, 2025, succeeding Ronald Tutor, who had served as Chairman and CEO since 2008. Smalley has been with Tutor Perini since 2015, initially joining as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. His financial expertise has played a crucial role in managing the company’s capital structure and long-term financial strategies.

In 2023, Smalley was promoted to President of Tutor Perini as part of a planned succession strategy, ensuring a smooth transition from Ronald Tutor’s long-standing leadership.

Despite stepping down as CEO, Ronald Tutor remains actively involved as Executive Chairman, continuing to influence major strategic decisions and providing guidance to Smalley and the leadership team.

More Projects, More Planning in 2025

In January 2025, the Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), which tracks non-residential building projects in planning stages, increased by 5.6%, reaching a value of 225.7. This growth indicates a positive trend in upcoming construction activities.

Breaking it down, commercial planning saw a rise of 4.2%, while institutional planning, which includes projects like schools and hospitals, went up by 8.7%. Notably, data centers and warehouse projects were significant contributors to the commercial sector's growth.

Overall, the DMI was 26% higher than in January 2024, with commercial planning up by 37% and institutional planning by 9%. This upward trend suggests that there will be increased construction spending later in the year, despite challenges like labor shortages and high building costs.

WORLD

Everton Football Stadium, United Kingdom

Everton Football Club is preparing to move from Goodison Park, their home since 1892, to a new state-of-the-art stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The new venue, named Everton Stadium, will have a capacity of 52,888 seats and is set to open for the 2025–26 season. This move marks a significant change for the club after more than 130 years at Goodison Park.

The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park took place on February 12, ending in a 2-2 draw between Everton and Liverpool, this match was the 120th derby at the stadium.

As of February 2025, the stadium is structurally complete, with all major construction milestones achieved. The final concrete terracing panel was installed in February 2024, marking a significant milestone in the project. The focus has now shifted to interior fittings, pitch preparation, and the installation of seating.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

How Togal.AI is Redefining Construction Takeoffs

Togal.AI is a cloud-based take-off software that utilizes artificial intelligence to automate the detection, measurement, comparison, and labeling of project spaces and features on architectural plans, significantly reducing the time required for these tasks.

Released in 2019, Togal.AI has been adopted by major general contractors, including DPR Construction and Clark Construction. In 2025, Togal.AI will continue to enhance preconstruction efficiency, enabling contractors to complete take-offs 80% faster and with 98% accuracy.

This advancement allows estimators to focus more on value-generating activities, such as scoping and value engineering, thereby increasing productivity and profitability.

Autonomous & Electric Equipment Take Center Stage

The US construction space is experiencing major advancements through the integration of autonomous and electric equipment. The global autonomous construction equipment market is projected to grow from $15.3 billion in 2024 to $16.73 billion in 2025. Similarly, the electric construction equipment sector is expected to expand, reaching $41.9 billion by 2030.

Companies like Volvo are heavily adapting to autonomous vehicles, lowering labor costs and maintenance expenses, with electric models cutting fuel costs and emissions. The integration of AVs with smart construction management systems optimizes operations, allowing real-time adjustments to improve efficiency.

AVs also improve safety by using sensors and cameras to avoid accidents, reducing the risk of injuries on construction sites, which account for 20% of all workplace fatalities.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

What does “Hazard Communication” on a site ensure?

A. Workers know about chemical and material hazards // B. Architectural styles are consistent // C. Traffic is controlled

The “base plate” in steel construction is..

A. The topmost beam // B. A plate where a column is anchored to the foundation // C. A decorative floor tile

What does the term “Knock-down” frame in doors mean?

A. Preassembled door frame // B. A frame delivered in parts for assembly on site // C. A frame made of cardboard

What does “Subgrade” refer to?

A. A failed inspection // B. Low-quality building materials // C. The ground prepared to support a structure or pavement

“CMU” stands for..

A. Construction Management Unit // B. Certified Masonry Utility // C. Concrete Masonry Unit

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

THIS WEEK’S HOT JOBS

1. Electrical Project Manager - Ohio - Healthcare

2. Electrical Project Manager - Ohio - Data Centers

3. Electrical Project Manager - Georgia - Data Centers

4. MEP Superintendent - Traveling - Data Centers

5. Construction Manager - Traveling - Data Centers

6. Construction Manager - Traveling - Semiconductors

7. MEP Project Manager - Kentucky - Healthcare

8. Mechanical Engineer - North Carolina - Food & Beverage

9. CSA Superintendent - Maryland - Pharmaceutical

10. MEP Superintendent - Traveling - Food & Beverage

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

What impact do I want to have on my team?

🚧Answers

Q1 A. Workers know about chemical and material hazards // Q2 B. A plate where a column is anchored to the foundation // Q3 B. A frame delivered in parts for assembly on site // Q4 C. The ground prepared to support a structure or pavement // Q5 C. Concrete Masonry Unit

How many did you get?

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