TheJobWalk E.34

Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! TopBuild nails an $810M acquisition of Progressive Roofing, while Amazon goes all-in on North Carolina with a massive $10B data center investment. Nashville International Airport lifts off with a $247M concourse expansion, DC welcomes a sleek $250M apartment tower, and Parspec secures $20M to revolutionize construction supply chains. Let’s dive in!

NEWS
TopBuild Corp Acquires Progressive Roofing for $810 Million

TopBuild Corp (NYSE: BLD) has completed its acquisition of Progressive Roofing for $810 million in cash, marking a strategic expansion into the commercial roofing market.

Progressive Roofing, based in Phoenix, reported $438 million in revenue and $89 million in EBITDA over the 12 months ending March 31, 2025. About 70% of its revenue comes from non‑discretionary services like re‑roofing and maintenance, while the remaining 30% comes from new construction.

Founded in 1978, the company now employs over 1,700 people across 12 branches, serving sectors such as education, technology, healthcare, industrial, and government.

TopBuild CEO Robert Buck described the deal as a way to “establish a new platform for organic and M&A growth” in a $75 billion, highly fragmented market. The purchase is funded through TopBuild’s cash reserves and an expanded credit facility.

TheJobWalk’s got eyes on this too...

📰 Nonresidential Material Prices up 2.5%(ABC)
📰 Miami 1,300ft Skyscraper Cleared for Build(ENR)
📰 Caterpillar Unveils New Cat 980GC Wheel Loader(CAT)
📰 Jacobs Selected to Design Rail Extension(JACOBS)

PROJECTS
Build of The Week

$10B Amazon Data Center in North Carolina, The Innovation Campus

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced it will be investing $10billion into a new data center and AI “innovation campus” in Richmond County. The “innovation campus” will include multiple large data center buildings packed with servers, storage, networking gear, and AI compute infrastructure. Construction is expected to start this year and is likely to span over several years, creating thousands of construction jobs.

• Client: Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• General Contractor: TBD

• Award: Data Center

• Value: Up to $10 Billion

• Location: Richmond County, North Carolina

Movement in the field:

✈️Nashville Airport Levels Up with $247M Makeover: Last week, Nashville International Airport unveiled its new 161,854 sq. ft. Concourse D extension. Hensel Phelps was the general contractor alongside Fentress Architects, who made up the design-build team. The extension, which is now open to the public, has a total of 5 new gates, an outdoor terrace, and 8 new restaurants and retail outlets.

Key Details: Client: Nashville International Airport - BNA, General Contractors: HENSEL PHELPS, Award: Aviation, Value: $247 Million, Location: Nashville, Tennessee

⚡Austin Powers Up, $440M Data Center Coming Soon: EdgeConneX has announced plans for a new 578,000 sqft data center in Bastrop County. The $440 million project will be built on a 140-acre site and is part of a broader multi-phase campus. Construction officially begins in August, with vertical work expected shortly after. The first building (AUS02) will be complete by June 2026, delivering 96 MW of capacity. Peak construction will involve 400-600 workers.

Key Details: Client/Developer: EdgeConneX, General Contractor: TBC, Sector: Data Center, Value: $440 Million, Location: Bastrop County, Texas

🏘️DC Gets a Pricey Upgrade, $250M Apartment Tower Incoming: This year, Balfour Beatty US started constructing the Portals IV Project, an apartment building in Washington D.C. The scope of this particular project will span over 525,000 sq ft and will overlook the city's Tidal Basin and national monuments. The brand new 365-unit luxury building is part of a larger complex that includes office buildings and the Salamander Hotel. The building will also feature a rooftop pool, sky terrace, and club room etc. Project completion is set for late 2025.

Key Details: General Contractor: Balfour Beatty US, Architects: TBA, Award: Mixed-Use, Value: $250 Million, Location: Washington D.C., Maryland, Client: Portals IV

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
The Vessel, New York City

The Vessel is a striking public structure located in Hudson Yards, New York City, designed by Heatherwick Studio and developed by Related Companies. Standing 150 feet tall, the honeycomb-like structure consists of 154 interconnected staircases, 2,500 individual steps, and 80 landings, forming nearly a mile of walkable pathways.

Construction began in April 2017, with the majority of its components prefabricated in Monfalcone, Italy. A total of 75 large steel segments were manufactured overseas, then shipped across the Atlantic and delivered up the Hudson River by barge.

General contractor AECOM Tishman led the construction effort, supported by engineering firms Thornton Tomasetti and AKT II. Originally budgeted at $75 million, the project ultimately cost between $150 and $200 million due to its complexity.

The Vessel officially opened to the public in March 2019.

TECH SPOTLIGHT
Parspec Secures $20M Series A to Streamline Construction Supply Chains

Parspec, a software company in San Mateo, California, just raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. The money came from big investors like Threshold Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and others. This funding will help Parspec grow its software platform that helps people in construction buy and sell materials more easily.

The construction industry is huge, worth $16 trillion, and over $5 trillion of that goes through its supply chain. Parspec’s software uses AI to help distributors and sales reps create faster and more accurate quotes and bids.

Their customers have seen a 50% to 100% boost in how much work they can get done and faster response times. In just one year, Parspec’s revenue has gone up by four times, and they now serve hundreds of distributors, including four of the five biggest electrical distributors in the U.S.

QUICK FIRE ROUND
Your quiz questions for this week:

What is the minimum overlap for rebar in a typical slab splice?

A. 6 inches // B. 12 inches // C. 40 times the bar diameter

Which type of foundation is best suited for weak or expansive soils?

A. Spread footing // B. Mat foundation // C. Shallow trench

What is the primary benefit of using post-tensioned concrete?

A. Faster curing time // B. Reduced slab thickness and cracking // C. Lower material cost

What construction document details the technical specifications for materials and installation?

A. Project manual // B. Blueprints // C. Shop drawings

What’s the purpose of commissioning in MEP systems?

A. Reduce labor costs // B. Speed up project closeout // C. Ensure systems perform as designed

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY
Can’t catch a break

REFLECTION
This week’s question to ask yourself✌️

What is the most valuable lesson I've learned so far?

ANSWERS

Q1 C. 40 times the bar diameter // Q2 B. Mat foundation // Q3 B. Reduced slab thickness and cracking // Q4 A. Project manual // Q5 C. Ensure systems perform as designed

How many did you get?