Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! The construction industry is riding the winter blues—despite a slowdown in single-family housing, nonresidential construction is booming, up 26% in 2025. Builders are tough as nails as they push through material shortages and weather woes. So, grab your hard hat, because the market’s picking up, and it’s time to build big!

PROJECTS

Under Construction: $1 Billion LEGO Manufacturing Facility

Gray & Hourigan who are the general contractors on this project, broke ground back in April 2023. The state-of-the-art facility is set to cover 1.7 million sqft across 340 acres, including a solar plant on-site with 35,000-40,000 ground panels along with 12,000-13,000 roof panels. LEGO plans to hire 1,761 workers over the next decade for this facility with production set to be fully operational in 2027.

• Client: the LEGO Group Group

• General Contractor: Gray / Hourigan

• Award: Manufacturing

• Value: $1 Billion

• Location: Chesterfield County, Virginia

Construction Finishing: $1.5 Billion "Project Osmium" Microsoft Data Center

In 2016 Microsoft announced plans for a major data center development named "Project Osmium" in West Des Moines, Iowa. The campus has been constructed by The Weitz Company and is set to be completed this month. The new facility will consist of 5 data center buildings, spanning over 1.7 million square feet. Many details for Osmium are still confidential, but Microsoft has announced further developments in the region, specifically on a new facility called ''Project Ruthenium''.

• Client: Microsoft

• General Contractors: The Weitz Company

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $1.5+ Billion

• Location: West Des Moines, Iowa

Project Update: $1 Billion Data Center "Project Ginger West"

Project Ginger West is a large-scale Microsoft data center development in West Des Moines Iowa, spanning approximately 180 acres and 1.8 million sqft once fully developed. The project includes multiple buildings, with DSM 42 and DSM 43 among the first structures to be built. Each data center is estimated to cost roughly $375 million, with the entire investment expected to exceed $1 billion. Construction began in 2023, with completion expected by summer 2028.

• Owner: Microsoft

• General Contractor: Turner Construction Company

• Sector: Data Centers

• Investment Value: $1 Billion

• Location: Des Moines, Iowa

Under Construction: $2 Billion "Project Zodiac" Google Data Center

Construction is underway in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Google's hyperscale data center development. Titled "Project Zodiac" which is expected to consist of a 12-building campus spanning 700+ acres. The project began in 2024 with Holder Construction, a major general contractor headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, leading the build of the project. Completion details, full-time positions, and additional contractors are still to be identified.

• Client: Google

• General Contractors: Holder Construction

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $2 Billion

• Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Project Under Construction: $1.2 Billion DC BLOX Data Center

DC BLOX has commenced construction of its newest 750,000 sqft Hyperscale Data Center Facility in Douglasville, Georgia. The two-story facility will be connected to DC BLOX’s nearly 500-mile dark fiber route creating the first high-capacity East-to-West fiber path connecting to the major communications hubs in Atlanta. The facility is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2025.

• Client: DC BLOX

• General Contractor: Evans General Contractors

• Design Partners: DLB Associates Thomas & Hutton Bennett & Pless, Inc.

• Architect: Corgan

• Award: Mission Critical

• Value: $1.2 Billion

• Location: Douglasville, Georgia

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NEWS

Meta’s $65 Billion Data Center Plan, Building the Matrix

Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is planning to spend up to $65 billion in 2025 to boost its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This investment will go towards building a massive data center and hiring more AI experts. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the new data center will be so large it could cover a significant part of Manhattan.

By the end of 2025, Meta aims to have over 1.3 million graphics processing units (GPUs) powering its AI projects. In December 2024, the company announced plans to build a $10 billion data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana. This facility, covering 4 million square feet, is set to be Meta's largest data center to date and is expected to be operational by 2030.

Danielsson Greenlights Skanska’s Expansion

Anders Danielsson, CEO of Skanska, highlighted the company's strategic focus on data centers as a significant growth area in the United States. During a February 2025 earnings call, Danielsson noted that Skanska is well positioned when it comes to data center construction, he emphasized the importance of repeat clients eager to expand their data center footprint.

Skanska's track record consists of constructing a $241 million data center in Arizona, approximately 245,000 square feet, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2026. As well as this, Skanska has undertaken an $80 million expansion project for a data center in Georgia, scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2025.

These hyperscale projects align with Skanska's broader strategy to capitalize on the increasing demand for data centers, driven by the rapid growth of digital services and cloud computing.

Housing Market Hits The Snooze Button

Reports from January showed housing starts dropped by 8.4%, totaling 993,000 units. This decline was largely due to severe snowstorms and freezing temperatures, especially in the Northeast, Midwest, and South. However, the West saw a 24.9% increase in building activity, despite wildfires in California.

Builders are also dealing with rising costs. Tariffs on imports, particularly steel and aluminum, have made materials more expensive. High mortgage rates add to the financial strain, making it harder for people to afford new homes.

These factors have led to a cautious approach among builders, as seen in the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which fell to a five-month low in February.

WORLD

Gensler's Unveils Al-Ahly's Future Fortress

Gensler unveiled an exciting new design for Al-Ahly Football Club's first home in Cairo. This visionary concept aims to create a landmark venue that embodies the spirit of the club and acts as a cultural and economic catalyst for the region.

The proposed design includes a state-of-the-art stadium with an increased seating capacity of 42,000 seats. Modern facilities such as advanced training centers, hospitality suites, and retail spaces are integrated to enhance both player performance and fan experience.

The architecture reflects Al-Ahly's rich history, incorporating elements that pay homage to the club's legacy.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Robots Laying the Tech Foundations

Construction is increasingly turning to robots to tackle labor shortages and boost efficiency, Built Robotics has developed autonomous machinery capable of performing tasks such as excavation and grading without human intervention. Similarly, Dusty Robotics offers the Field Printer, a robot that prints digital layouts directly onto construction sites, reducing errors and saving time.

The global construction robotics market is projected to grow from $5.5 billion in 2024 to $6.55 billion in 2025. Robots are now handling tasks ranging from bricklaying and 3D printing of building components to demolition and site inspection, significantly reducing the physical strain on human workers.

With these developments paving the way for more automated and efficient building practices, who knows what the future holds..

Building Smarter with Disperse

Disperse is revolutionizing the construction industry with its AI-powered platform that enhances project management and efficiency. By transforming 360° visual data into actionable insights, Disperse enables project teams to monitor progress accurately and identify potential issues early.

This technology streamlines operations, allowing for more informed decision-making and a reduction in admin tasks. In 2025, Disperse introduced "Impulse," a tool that integrates performance insights directly into building plans, tracking 480 different construction tasks, and generating 65%-time savings in project management tasks.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

A “truss” is commonly found in which part of a building?

A. Roof system // B. Floor slab // C. Foundation

Where is “Wainscoting” typically found?

A. On lower portions of interior walls // B. Inside window frames // C. On roof rafters

In surveying, a “benchmark” is used for:

A. A tool for cutting wood // B. A reference point with a known elevation // C. A building’s code requirement

The term “firestop” refers to what:

A. Sprinkler heads // B. A type of alarm system // C. Materials used to prevent fire from spreading through openings

An “Air barrier” in construction is meant to:

A. Insulate from sound // B. Decorate ceilings // C. Control airflow and reduce energy loss

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

THIS WEEK’S HOT JOBS

1. Electrical Estimator - Ohio - Commercial

2. Electrical Estimator - Georgia - Commercial

3. Electrical Superintendent - Ohio - Data Centers

4. Electrical Project Manager - Ohio - Data Centers

5. Electrical Superintendent - Georgia - Data Centers

6. Electrical Project Manager - Georgia - Data Centers

7. Operations Manager - Texas - Mission Critical

8. Senior Superintendent - Traveling - Mission Critical

9. Project Manager - Texas - Healthcare

10. Electrical Project Manager - Nebraska - Data Centers

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

How do I feel about my physical health right now?

🚧Answers

Q1 A. Roof system // Q2 A. On lower portions of interior walls // Q3 B. A reference point with a known elevation // Q4 C. Materials used to prevent fire from spreading through openings // Q5 C. Control airflow and reduce energy loss

How many did you get?

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