Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! The holiday season is upon us, and construction professionals are the real elves keeping things running. From pouring concrete to untangling Christmas lights, you’re the ones making the magic happen. Let’s hammer home the holiday spirit—without decking the halls with misplaced nails!

PROJECTS

Project Announcement: Microporous to Build $1.4 B Plant in Virginia

Last month it was announced that Microporous has plans to build a $1.4B battery separator plant in Danville, Virginia. The facility will be developed in two phases, each phase including approximately 500,000 square feet, with the potential to expand to over 2 million square feet. The plant will produce separators for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and prove to be a huge asset to the North American market. Construction is set to begin in 2025.

• Client: Microporous, LLC

• General Contractor: TBD

• Award: Battery Plant

• Value: $1.4 Billion

• Location: Danville, Virginia

Under Construction: $350 Million CyrusOne Data Center

In October 2024, CyrusOne broke ground on their new data center campus in Aurora, Illinois. Construction is set to be on a 32-acre site, which will consist of two buildings totaling 446,000 square-feet with an IT capacity of 40 megawatts. It has been said that during construction, a commitment has been made towards the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to use unionized labor, creating hundreds of jobs in the process. Construction is predicted to be completed in 2026.

• Client: CyrusOne

• General Contractor: NA

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $350 Million

• Location: Aurora, Illinois

Project Update: Switch Pyramid Data Center Expansion

Originally built by Steelcase in 1989, the Pyramid was acquired by Switch in 2016 for $22.2 million. It has since become a state-of-the-art data center after a $5 Billion build out by The Christman Company. The Pyramid Campus is currently undergoing a 2nd expansion, and the 312,000 sqft second building will open in Q2 of 2025. Construction on a third data center building on the site is expected to start early next year.

• Client: Switch

• General Contractor: The Christman Company

• Sector: Data Center

• Investment Value: $5 Billion +

• Location: Gaines Township, Michigan

Major Investment: $7 Billion Cologix Data Center

Cologix has just revealed plans to invest $7 billion to construct a new data center located in Johnstown, Columbus. The new facility is set to be Cologix largest project to date. 154 acres were purchased from Johnstown Land Company for a disclosed amount. The new campus will spread across 2 million square-feet and feature 8 AI-ready data centers, delivering 800MW. Construction is set to begin 2025.

• Client: Cologix, Inc.

• General Contractor: TBD

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $7 Billion

• Location: Johnstown, Ohio

NEWS

Single-Family Homebuilding Reaches Five-Month High

Recent statistics have announced that in September 2024, U.S. single-family housing starts surged by 2.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.027 million units, the highest level in five months. The growth was driven largely by strong gains in the South and Northeast regions, reflecting resilient demand despite challenges in the housing market. This rise indicates ongoing efforts by builders to meet housing demand as inventory levels remain constrained.

However, building permits, a forward-looking indicator for single-family construction, rose only 0.3%, signaling caution among builders. High mortgage rates and elevated inventory levels have dampened buyer enthusiasm, causing many prospective homeowners to hold off on purchases.

Overall housing starts, which include both single-family and multifamily units, fell slightly by 0.5% to 1.354 million units. This decline reflects the broader challenges in the market, but the increase in single-family construction suggests optimism in key regions, keeping the sector on a steady, albeit cautious, trajectory.

Construction Costs at Stake: Trump’s Tariff Plans Explained

Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China represent a strategic move to address trade imbalances and broader political issues. A 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods is positioned as a response to illegal immigration and the trafficking of drugs, including fentanyl. Meanwhile, a 10% tariff on Chinese imports seeks to strengthen domestic industries and counteract China's trade practices, complementing the tariffs already imposed during his previous administration.

These countries are key suppliers of goods to the U.S., including essential construction materials like steel, aluminum, and lumber. Industry experts have raised concerns about how these tariffs could raise costs for contractors and disrupt supply chains. Higher prices on imported goods may also increase demand for domestically produced materials, potentially driving their costs up as well. This could affect major infrastructure projects and housing developments reliant on affordable materials.

Construction industry leaders emphasize that the tariffs create uncertainty, making long-term planning difficult. Tariff-related costs may force businesses to adjust project budgets or delay investments.

WORLD

$250 Billion GCC Railway Project, Middle-East

The Gulf Railway, a 2,177-kilometer rail network connecting the six GCC countries (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman), aims to enhance regional trade and integration. Initially proposed in 2009, the project, estimated to cost $250 billion, has faced delays due to financial constraints and coordination challenges among member states. The project has set a target completion by December 2030.

The railway is projected to boost regional connectivity, supporting an annual cargo capacity of 50 million tons and generating over 80,000 direct and indirect jobs. Financially, initiatives like the UAE’s Etihad Rail green bond framework align the project with environmental goals, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. The rail system will provide a sustainable alternative to road transport, reducing transit times and enhancing trade efficiency within the $2 trillion GCC economy.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Procore AI Launched at Groundbreak 2024

Procore Technologies has launched Procore AI, a suite of AI-powered tools designed to enhance construction project efficiency and decision-making. Unveiled at Groundbreak 2024, Procore AI integrates features such as Procore Agents, Insights, and Copilot.

Procore Agents automate routine tasks like managing RFIs, scheduling, and submittals, reducing administrative burdens and allowing professionals to focus on higher-value work. Insights leverages Procore's extensive construction dataset to help users understand project risks, benchmark performance, and predict potential challenges, enabling more informed decision-making.

Procore Copilot provides instant access to key documents, summarizes complex information, and offers data-driven insights, thereby saving time and improving productivity on job sites.

Highwire Prequalification Software

Highwire has launched its innovative prequalification solution, designed to make vetting subcontractors more efficient and effective. Built with input from its origins at Harvard—where it was developed to enhance safety and reduce insurance costs on campus construction projects - the platform tailors the prequalification process to the subcontractor’s scope of work. By eliminating irrelevant questions and streamlining evaluations, the tool simplifies a traditionally frustrating process for contractors while delivering more accurate risk assessments.

This solution addresses a critical need in the industry, as a recent survey from the Associated General Contractors of America found that 70% of contractors have seen an uptick in subcontractor distress or defaults. Highwire’s platform evaluates factors such as financial stability, safety performance, project history, and insurance compliance to provide a comprehensive risk profile. With customers like Rosendin Electric and T5 Data Centers onboard, Highwire is redefining prequalification to reduce friction and improve decision-making in subcontractor selection.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

In construction, what is the primary purpose of rebar?

A. To reinforce concrete // B. To measure building height // C. To insulate walls

What does OSHA stand for in the construction industry?

A. Occupational Safety and Health Administration // B. Official Standards for Home Architecture // C. Office of Structural and Housing Authority

Which piece of equipment is commonly used to lift heavy materials on a construction site?

A. Backhoe // B. Crane // C. Excavator

What is the purpose of a punch list in construction?

A. To record completed tasks // B. To outline final project fixes or adjustments // C. To track materials used during a project

What does the term "load-bearing wall" mean in construction?

A. A wall that supports weight from above // B. A wall used only for decoration // C. A temporary wall used during renovations

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

THIS WEEK’S HOT JOBS

1. Electrical Superintendent, Data Centers

2. MEP Project Manager, Healthcare

3. MEP Superintendent, Healthcare

4. Project Manager, Healthcare

5. Electrical Project Manager, Manufacturing

6. Electrical Superintendent, Healthcare

7. Mechanical Superintendent, Food & Beverage

8. BIM/VDC Manager

9. Project Executive, Aviation

10. Senior Project Manager, Aviation

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

What are the most important lessons I’ve learned in life so far?

🚧Answers

Q1 A. To reinforce concrete // Q2 A. Occupational Safety and Health Administration // Q3 B. Crane // Q4 B. To outline final project fixes or adjustments // Q5 A. A wall that supports weight from above

How many did you get?

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