TheJobWalk E.59

Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! This week, Verizon wrapped up its acquisition of Frontier Communications, Google is moving ahead with a $1B data center at the Port of Little Rock, while Solstice Advanced Materials announced a $220M manufacturing expansion in Virginia. Yondr Group hit ready for service on a 48MW hyperscale facility in Loudoun County. Granite Construction and Traylor Bros secured a $157M bridge project in Tucson, TxDOT kicked off a $146M U.S. 90 expansion in San Antonio, and Procore Technologies closed its Datagrid acquisition to beef up its AI capabilities. Let’s dive in!

We’re excited to announce TheJobWalk website is getting a much needed renovation, and it’s looking awesome so far to say the least. Can’t wait to get it finalized, stay tuned over the coming weeks, you won’t want to miss it!

Earlier this week, Verizon and Frontier announced that all required regulatory approvals are now in place for Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier. The final clearance came from the California Public Utilities Commission, marking the last major regulatory hurdle for the deal.

The transaction closed on January 20, 2026, following satisfaction of standard closing conditions. Frontier’s stock has since been removed from the Nasdaq as part of the acquisition process.

With the deal complete, Verizon significantly expands its fiber footprint. The combined network reaches nearly 30 million fiber passings across 31 states and Washington, D.C. The acquisition aligns with Verizon’s strategy to scale its fiber based broadband platform while strengthening both mobile and home connectivity offerings.

TheJobWalk’s got eyes on this too...

📰 T5 Splits Ops and Development Units(T5 Data Centers)
📰 Turner Launches First Equipment Company(Turner Construction)
📰 Volvo CE Unveils Upgraded Compact Excavator(Volvo)
📰 New CEO to Scale Stream’s Data Centers(Stream Data Centers)
📰 Riots $96M Land Deal Sets Stage for 700MW Build(Global Newswire)

Powering up this week’s edition is Ace Electric, a specialist electrical contractor based out of Valdosta, Georgia, operating across Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee & Ohio.

​Ace is a family-owned and operated electrical contractor with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1975. Fast forward to today, they are ranked the No.1 Speciality Contractor in the Southeast.

With a 45+ year track record across commercial, industrial, and mission-critical markets, Ace isn’t just building systems, they’re building trust. With a team of over 1,200 employees, Ace continues to strive for excellence.

Their vision? To be the preferred electrical contractor and employer of choice in every community they serve.

Googles $1 Billion Data Center at Port of Little Rock

Google is behind a planned $1 billion data center project at the Port of Little Rock in Arkansas, according to industry and local press sources. The tech giant is quietly pushing forward with the development after getting the green light from the city.

The facility will be a single campus data center spanning roughly 300,000 square feet. Google hasn't made any public announcement about the project yet, but sources say negotiations and planning are happening behind the scenes with local officials, who aren't commenting because of nondisclosure agreements.

Little Rock's city board of directors approved the project back in April 2025, with Willowbend Capital LLC listed as the applicant. That LLC is apparently working on Google's behalf as the company expands its presence in Arkansas.

This comes on the heels of Google's bigger investment strategy in the state, which includes a previously confirmed $4 billion data center campus in West Memphis.

Movement in the field:

🛡️ Spectra Shields Up! Chesterfield Site Gears Up for Defense Boom: Solstice Advanced Materials has announced a $220 million expansion of its ballistic fiber manufacturing operations in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The project will boost production capacity for Spectra and Spectra Shield fibers, which are used in armor and industrial applications. The site is getting new spinning and composite coating capabilities, with plans to wrap up the expansion by 2030.

Developer: Solstice Advanced Materials, Sector: Advanced Manufacturing, Value: $220 Million, Location: Chesterfield County, Virginia

🌉 Tucson Bridge Hits the Gym, Now 6 Lanes Wide: Granite Construction and Traylor Bros have landed a $157 million contract to widen 22nd Street and replace a four-lane bridge with a six-lane span in Tucson, Arizona. The project will upgrade the roadway from Kino Parkway to Tucson Blvd, improving traffic flow through a key corridor in the city. Funding is coming from a mix of city sources, a regional authority, and a $25 million federal RAISE grant.

General Contractors: Granite Construction & Traylor Bros JV, Sector: Heavy Civil, Value: $157 Million, Location: Tucson, Arizona

🔥 Yondr Drops 12MW Like It’s Hot: Yondr Group has reached a ready-for-service milestone at its hyperscale campus in Loudoun County, marking progress on the second building as phased capacity comes online. The new facility is planned as a 48 MW building and is tracking toward delivery in 2026. The broader campus is planned for 96 MW and is being developed in partnership with JK Land Holdings, LLC. An initial 48 MW facility has already been delivered at the site, anchoring the campus within Northern Virginia’s data center market, where disciplined phasing, power strategy, and execution speed continue to separate viable projects from the rest.

Developer: Yondr Group (with JK Land Holdings, LLC), Sector: Data Center / Hyperscale Infrastructure, Value: TBD, Location: Loudoun County, Northern Virginia

🚦 $146M to Make Traffic Slightly Less Awful: TxDOT has kicked off a $146 million first phase to expand U.S. 90 in West Bexar County, San Antonio, widening the highway from four to six lanes between I-410 and Loop 1604. The full 7.6 mile corridor upgrade, which extends all the way to SH 211, is projected to cost $473 million and includes frontage roads, flyovers, and safety improvements. Phase 1 is expected to wrap up by 2030, while future phases are still waiting on funding.

Developer: Texas Department of Transportation, General Contractor: Jordan Foster Construction, Sector: Heavy Civil, Value: $473 Million (Full); $146 Million (Phase 1), Location: San Antonio, Texas

🔒 AGC’s Outlook for Construction in 2026
🔒 810 Acre Data Center Clears Hurdle in Louisiana
🔒 Data Center District Coming to Waco Texas
🔒 Project Marvel Lines up for Expansion in Alabama
🔒 & more!

Procore Technologies has acquired Datagrid as part of its strategy to expand artificial intelligence capabilities across the construction industry. The acquisition wrapped up in January 2026, though financial terms weren't disclosed.

The deal strengthens Procore's AI roadmap by improving data connectivity and cutting down on data silos across construction workflows. Datagrid's AI platform pulls together data from multiple sources, including ERP systems and cloud storage, helping automate processes like submittal reviews and RFIs. This should boost efficiency and decision making for both Procore and non Procore customers.

Procore said that Datagrid's technology will support broader workflow automation across the construction ecosystem. Datagrid's CEO is joining Procore to help lead its AI and data strategy as the company keeps investing in innovation across its cloud based construction management platform.

Quay Quarter Tower is a 54-story commercial office tower in Circular Quay, Sydney, standing around 216 metres tall. Completed in 2022, the project stands out for its adaptive reuse of the former AMP Centre, originally built in 1976, setting a new benchmark for sustainable high-rise redevelopment.

About 65% of the original structure was kept, which led to an estimated 50% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a conventional new build. The tower is made up of five stacked and offset volumes that improve natural light, create outdoor terraces, and maximize views across Sydney Harbour.

The development brings in retail and public spaces at podium level, strengthening its connection to the Circular Quay precinct. Quay Quarter Tower has picked up a 6 Star Green Star rating and high NABERS Energy performance. In 2022 it also received the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat award for Best Tall Building Worldwide.

What is the primary reason for specifying a water-cement ratio below 0.50 in structural concrete design?

A. Increase workability in hot climates // B. Reduce permeability and improve durability // C. Accelerate hydration during curing

Which mechanical code requirement most directly governs minimum ventilation rates in commercial occupancies?

A. ASHRAE 90.1 // B. IMC Section 403 // C. ASHRAE 62.1

When sizing feeders for a multi-story building, what key factor distinguishes them from branch circuits in NEC calculations?

A. Use of isolated ground paths // B. Demand factor application across multiple loads // C. Conductor color-coding requirements

Which construction method minimizes lateral load transfer in high-rise concrete core structures?

A. Shear wall coupling // B. Slipform construction // C. Outrigger and belt truss systems

What is a typical engineering rationale for selecting epoxy-coated rebar in bridge decks?

A. To resist chloride-induced corrosion // B. To reduce installation time // C. To improve bond strength with concrete

When you strip away titles, roles, and responsibilities, who are you becoming, and are you proud of that direction?

Q1 B. Reduce permeability and improve durability // Q2 C. ASHRAE 62.1 // Q3 B. Demand factor application across multiple loads // Q4 C. Outrigger and belt truss systems // Q5 A. To resist chloride-induced corrosion

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