Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! Construction never sleeps.. Wyoming goes nuclear with a $4B reactor, Balfour Beatty's $385M beachfront begins, PPG invests $380M in North Carolina, New Home & Landsea merge in a $1.2B housing deal, and Walmart pioneers retail with high-tech 3D printed expansions. Enjoy the read!

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PROJECTS

$4 Billion Later, Wyoming Gets a Reactor

TerraPower has commenced construction on its $4 billion Natrium nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This advanced facility features a 345MW sodium-cooled reactor and a molten salt-based energy storage system, capable of boosting output to 500MW during peak demand. Construction began in June 2024, with operations expected to start by 2030.

• Owner/Developer: TerraPower

• EPC Contractor: Bechtel Corporation

• Award: Nuclear

• Value: $4 Billion

• Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

From Blueprints to Beachfront, Balfour Beatty's Latest $385M Venture

Balfour Beatty US is currently underway constructing the new $385 million Grand Hyatt Miami Beach hotel. This 996,130-square-foot development is going to be 17 stories high and will feature 800 guest rooms, extensive convention and meeting spaces, ground-floor retail areas, and a climate-controlled skybridge. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2027 and is expected to employ over 500 workers at peak construction.

• Client: Grand Hyatt

• General Contractors: Balfour Beatty US

• Award: Mixed-Use

• Value: $385 Million

• Location: Miami, Florida

PPG Paints the Town Shelby with $380 Million Investment

PPG announced Thursday they will invest $380 million to build a new aerospace coatings and sealants facility in Shelby, North Carolina. This facility will span over 198,000 sq. ft. and will have warehousing and manufacturing units to produce PPG’s full line of aerospace products. The new workspace will provide more than 110 jobs within the facility with an average salary of $66,861.

Construction is set to begin in October and be completed in 2027.

• Client: PPG

• General Contractors: TBA

• Award: Manufacturing Facility

• Value: $380 Million

• Location: Shelby, North Carolina

Caldwell County Set to Host Tract's Data Hub

Tract, a Denver-based infrastructure developer, has announced plans for a 2GW hyperscale data center in Caldwell County, Texas. The 1515-acre site is designed to support multiple hyperscale data centers with strong access to renewable energy and utility infrastructure. The project is expected to create thousands of construction and operational jobs in the region.

• Owner/Developer: Tract

• General Contractor: TBD

• Award: Data Center

• Location: Caldwell County, Texas

Roche Drops $50B to Make America Heal Again

Last month, Roche announced that they will be investing $50 billion over five years on new and existing manufacturing facilities in several states. New facilities mentioned include a state-of-the-art gene therapy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania and a facility in Indiana focused on continuous glucose monitoring devices. This investment is expected to create 12,000 new jobs, including approximately 6,500 in construction and 1,000 within Roche's new and expanded facilities.

• Client: Roche

• General Contractors: TBD

• Award: Manufacturing

• Value: $50 Billion

• Location: United States

MEET LEWIS MICHAEL CONSULTANTS

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Recent placements include General Superintendents, MEP Project Managers, and Electrical Project Managers, working on renowned projects with Google, Samsung & Tesla.

Whether it's a large-scale infrastructure project or a small development, Lewis Michael Consultants has the network to support recruitment needs across the spectrum.

NEWS

From Rivals to Roommates, New Home Co & Landsea Merge in $1.2B Deal

New Home Co. is buying Landsea Homes for $1.2 billion, making Landsea a private company. This move brings together two strong homebuilders: New Home Co. sold 1,123 homes in 2023 with $927 million in revenue, while Landsea sold 2,831 homes and made $1.4 billion.

Landsea shareholders will get $11.30 per share in cash, which is 61% more than the stock’s May 12 closing price. The deal is backed by $650 million in new funds from Apollo Global Management, which owns New Home, and support from Millrose Properties.

Once the deal is done, Landsea will no longer be on the stock market. Matthew Zaist, the CEO of New Home Co., will lead the combined business. Experts believe this merger will help the new company grow faster and lower costs.

WORLD

Frank Gehry’s CMU Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan

China Medical University (CMU) commenced construction of the CMU Museum of Fine Arts at its Shui-Nan campus in Taichung, Taiwan. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, this marks his first major project in East Asia. 

The museum's design features stainless steel forms that interact with natural light, inspired by elements such as water, trees, and sky. Commissioned by CMU Chairman Dr. Chang-Hai Tsai, the museum aims to extend the university's influence beyond medicine and science into the arts, positioning Taiwan on the global cultural stage. 

The facility is scheduled to open in 2028 and will serve as the centerpiece of the Shui-Nan campus master plan. This project is set to become a defining cultural and architectural feature of Taiwan, enhancing CMU's international reputation and contributing to the global arts community.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Walmart's New Expansion Printed, Not Poured

Walmart is using 3D printing to make building faster and cheaper. In Alabama, they built a 5,000-square-foot pickup center using this method. The walls, which are 16 feet tall, were printed in just 75 hours over seven days.

A team of five people used two large 3D concrete printers to do the work. This is Walmart’s second time using this technology. The first was in Tennessee, where they printed an 8,000-square-foot addition.

Walmart is working with a company called Alquist 3D, which focuses on printing buildings with concrete. The goal is to save time and lower costs while still making strong, useful buildings.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

What type of drawing shows the front or side of a building?

A. Plan // B. Elevation // C. Detail

What does a transformer do in an electrical system?

A. Increases resistance // B. Converts DC to AC // C. Steps voltage up or down

What does an engineer’s stamp on drawings mean?

A. Permit is approved // B. Design meets code and is reviewed // C. Budget is finalized

Which fastener is best for anchoring into concrete?

A. Wood screw // B. Lag bolt // C. Wedge anchor

What type of circuit allows lights to be turned off in two locations?

A. Parallel circuit // B. 3-way switch circuit // C. Ground fault circuit

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

Do I surround myself with people who uplift and support me?

🚧Answers

Q1 B. Elevation // Q2 C. Steps voltage up or down // Q3 B. Design meets code and is reviewed // Q4 C. Wedge anchor // Q5 B. 3-way switch circuit

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