TheJobWalk E.26

Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! JE Dunn & Nabholz team up for an $825 million Arkansas prison, Johnson & Johnson pledges a $2 billion boost to North Carolina, and Homeland greenlights a multi-year border wall. Across the globe, Singapore kicks off construction of Changi Airport’s Terminal 5, and Florida welcomes the world's largest 3D printing factory. Enjoy the read!

NEWS
Homeland Security Approves Multi-Year Border Wall Bill

Top Republican senators are raising concerns over President Trump's proposed $46.5 billion border wall spending. Senator Rand Paul, known for his focus on reducing government spending, criticized the high costs, especially since illegal border crossings have decreased.

The U.S House Homeland Security Committee has approved a bill for new border wall construction along the Southwest border. This funding aims to support wall projects over the next three years.

These senators believe that the money could be better spent on hiring more Border Patrol agents and improving existing facilities, rather than building more walls. The walls have been said to cost $6-8million per mile to construct.

TheJobWalk’s got eyes on this too...

📰 Contractors Brace for Recession(New York Post)
📰 Skanska CEO Reports Surge in Data Center Projects(CNBC)
📰 Lowe’s Hammers Out a Win, Home Depot Holds Steady(Investors)
📰 Housing permits, starts, and completions all slipped in April 2025(Census)

PROJECTS
Build of The Week

Arkansas's Newest Mega Project: 3,000 Beds, No Reservations Needed

Recently, it was announced that JE Dunn Construction and Nabholz Corporation have been selected to build the new 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County. The project is expected to create approximately 800 jobs with average salaries over $46,600, which will boost the local economy and aid overcrowding. Construction is expected to begin in September 2025 and be fully operational by 2028.

• Client: Arkansas Board of Corrections

• General Contractors: JE Dunn Construction & Nabholz Corporation

• Design Team: HDR & Cromwell Architects Engineers

• Award: Government

• Value: $825 Million

• Location: Franklin County, Arkansas

Movement in the field:

🛢️Oklahoma Gets Charged Up with $1.2B Lithium Plant: Stardust Power, Inc. is constructing a $1.2 billion battery-grade lithium refinery in Muskogee, Oklahoma. They broke ground on January 22nd, 2025. Once operational, the refinery will produce up to 50,000 metric tons of lithium annually, supporting the electric vehicle battery supply chain.

Key Details: Client: Stardust Power Inc, General Contractor: TBD, Award: Lithium Refinery, Estimated Value: $1.2 Billion, Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma

💊From Band-Aids to Biotech, J&J's $2B Carolina Commitment: Back in March, Johnson & Johnson broke ground on their new 500,000 sqft biologics facility in Wilson, North Carolina The facility is designed to strengthen their capacity to deliver advanced biologic therapies, addressing critical areas such as cancer, immune-mediated, and neurological diseases. This project is set to create over 500 high-skilled roles within the facility and approximately 5,000 jobs during the construction phase. Construction is currently underway with completion expected in 2028.

Key Details: Client: Johnson & Johnson, General Contractors: TBD, Award: Manufacturing, Value: $2 Billion, Location: Wilson, North Carolina

🏗️$126M Later, Charlotte’s Skyline Gets a New Showstopper: Charlotte developer Crescent Communities is expected to begin work on a 31-story mixed-use tower this year. The project will include 560,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail space, a 200-key luxury boutique hotel, and over 188 multifamily units. This facility plans to begin construction later this year and deliver sometime in 2026.

Key Details: Client: Crescent Communities, Architect: Cooper Carry, General Contractor: TBA, Sector: Mixed-use, Value: $126.3 Million, Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

🏨South End’s Newest Addition, Charlotte’s $700M Tower: Since May 2023, Clark Construction Group has been constructing the new mixed-use development in Charlotte, North Carolina. The project involves two towers, one 42-story multifamily tower with 409 units (residential) and a 35-story office tower. The residential tower will include a fitness center, rooftop pool, entertainment areas, private terrace, and a publicly accessible rooftop bar. Construction is expected to be completed by 2027.

Key Details: General Contractor: Clark Construction Group, Architects: Goettsch Partners, Award: Mixed-use, Project Value: $700 Million, Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, Client: Riverside Investment & Development Company & Woodfield Development

MEET LEWIS MICHAEL CONSULTANTS

Lewis Michael Consultants is a specialist recruitment firm focused solely on the U.S construction industry, operating from East to West Coast. 

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.

WORLD
Changi Airport, Singapore

Singapore has started building Terminal 5 at Changi Airport, its biggest project yet. This new terminal will handle up to 50 million more passengers each year, helping the airport grow to serve 140 million people total. Construction has just broken ground and will finish around the mid-2030s.

Terminal 5 is part of the large Changi East plan, covering 1,080 hectares. The plan includes a third runway, new cargo areas, and better transport links. The terminal will connect easily with the rest of the airport, making travel smoother.

Airlines like Singapore Airlines and Scoot will move all their flights to Terminal 5 when it's ready. This move will make their operations more efficient and help them grow.

Air travel in Asia is expected to double by 2043. By building Terminal 5, Singapore is getting ready for that growth and staying a top global travel hub.

TECH SPOTLIGHT
Layer by Layer, Florida Builds the Future

A new 3D printing factory recently opened in St Petersburg, Florida. It's the biggest one in the world based on how much it can make and how many machines it uses. The company, Haddy, was started by Jay Rogers, who also created Local Motors.

Haddy’s 32,000-square-foot factory uses eight giant robots to 3D print things like furniture and tubs. These robots run on smart Siemens software and use recycled materials, like old fishing nets and plastic. In one example, Haddy printed a coffee bar for a café in just one day after a hurricane damaged their space.

Printing locally helps avoid shipping problems and makes it easier to customize items. Haddy says this type of factory can quickly help people and businesses get what they need. They plan to build more of these factories around the world.

QUICK FIRE ROUND
Your quiz questions for this week:

What does PPE stand for?

A. Personal Protective Equipment // B. Professional Project Estimator // C. Public Planning Engineer

The main purpose of insulation in walls and roofs is to:

A. Increase structural strength // B. Reduce heat transfer // C. Decorate interiors

“Ballast” in roofing often refers to:

A. Rocks or stones placed on flat roofs to hold down membranes // B. A type of insulation // C. Electrical equipment for lights

What’s the purpose of a mechanical chase?

A. Hide electrical boxes // B. Provide airflow // C. Route HVAC and plumbing lines

What is the purpose of a junction box?

A. House wire splices safely // B. Measure electrical flow // C. Reduce voltage

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY
Who designed this.. NASA?

REFLECTION
This week’s question to ask yourself✌️

How do I give back to my community or society?

ANSWERS

Q1 A. Personal Protective Equipment // Q2 B. Reduce heat transfer // Q3 A. Rocks or stones placed on flat roofs to hold down membranes // Q4 C. Route HVAC and plumbing lines // Q5 A. House wire splices safely

How many did you get?