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Planera, a provider of AI-native CPM scheduling software for construction, announced upcoming support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for securely connecting AI assistants and large language models with enterprise applications. The integration aims to eliminate manual data extraction and enable real-time, cross-platform intelligence by allowing teams to query live Planera schedules directly from AI environments such as Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's ChatGPT. Users can perform instant schedule and risk analysis, automate multi-platform workflows, and reduce integration friction without custom APIs. CEO Nitin Bhandari noted that MCP shifts how teams interact with data, empowering builders to ask complex questions and receive actionable answers.
Fleming Construction Group celebrated two project honors from the ABC of Oklahoma's 2026 Excellence in Construction Awards, presented October 29 at the Osage Casino Hotel Skyline Event Center in Tulsa. The awards recognized the Nestlé Purina Distribution Facility in Edmond, completed by Fleming Construction, and OCAT Hangar 4 in Oklahoma City, completed by Fleming Steel Erectors. The Nestlé Purina project is a 300,000-square-foot, $27.75 million food-grade facility that overcame significant weather and site challenges, including 126 rain days and six weeks of flooding, to finish on budget. OCAT Hangar 4 is a 67,704-square-foot, $9.7 million aircraft maintenance facility featuring a 302-foot clear-span structure for three Boeing 737 aircraft, completed with zero reported safety incidents. The awards highlight Fleming's expertise in large-scale industrial construction and technically demanding aviation facilities.
Bridgit, an AI workforce planning platform for construction, announced that Swinerton Builders has selected it to enhance workforce planning. Swinerton will use Bridgit to consolidate workforce information, gain real-time visibility into pipeline and projects, and leverage AI to share resources across offices and regions. The platform captures detailed qualifications to help Swinerton make more informed staffing decisions. Bridgit CEO Mallorie Brodie and Swinerton VP Kim DeYoung commented on the partnership's value for cross-company visibility and strategic workforce planning.
Clark Construction advanced structural upgrades for the Washington, D.C. Metro system within a 56-day sprint last summer, delivering work at the Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations on time and on budget, according to an Oct. 29 news release. The project involved specialized demolition, track replacement, and a new mezzanine at Bethesda to connect with the future Purple Line. The contractor described the projects as 'a unique puzzle,' citing challenges such as outdated site plans, record summer heat, and space constraints that required just-in-time material deliveries and 24/7 work. The Grosvenor-Strathmore modernization is complete, while Bethesda work is slated for 2027 completion.
Private nonresidential construction spending increased 1.1% month over month in September, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Data center construction surged 8.6% and accounted for virtually all of the increase, per Associated Builders and Contractors analysis. Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist, noted that excluding data centers and power, spending actually fell. Over the past year, data center spending soared 90%, while all other private nonresidential categories combined declined 7.8%, according to AGC. Ken Simonson of AGC warned that surging data center and power demand is masking cutbacks elsewhere and straining supply chains amid tariffs and conflicts. Basu expects AI-related projects to sustain momentum.
Granite Construction won a $16 million road project in Washington and an $11 million military contract in Florida. Hensel Phelps started placing precast concrete panels on the exterior of the Airside D terminal at Tampa International Airport. Other news: Bechtel invested $1 million in Wyoming skilled trades training, Skyline Construction hired Steve Dunne as senior project executive, and Neya Systems won a $3.3 million Navy contract for autonomous construction equipment.
Carrier Global announced a more than $600 million investment over the next three years in a new advanced manufacturing and engineering center in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility, exceeding 1 million square feet, will create 1,500 jobs and support record backlog levels driven by demand across data centers, healthcare, education, and industrial markets. Fort Worth approved $10.9 million in tax abatement incentives over seven years under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, tied to capital investment and hiring targets. The project expands Carrier's U.S. manufacturing capacity for advanced thermal management systems, including air- and water-cooled commercial chillers, and is scheduled to open next year. This is Carrier's largest single facility investment to date.
Construction promotes from the field more than almost any industry, which is a real strength but also why many executives quietly believe they do not belong in their jobs. Martha Fernandez, a licensed clinical social worker, describes the distinct pattern of impostor syndrome she sees in people who came up through the trades. She cites a 2026 Cerevity report, The Leadership Mental Health Index, along with DDI and Deloitte research showing leaders are struggling. Impostor feelings are a business risk, leading to overwork, reluctance to delegate and a failure to escalate problems early. Fernandez recommends naming the transition to executive leadership, normalizing basic questions, and offering confidential support outside the company.
Newforma, a construction information management technology provider, announced Wednesday that it has acquired Lumi AI, an artificial intelligence startup, for undisclosed terms. Newforma will integrate Toronto-based Lumi's agentic AI into Vojo, its AI assistant, to enhance capabilities such as natural language search and cross-project queries across more than two decades of project data. Lumi's AI enables plain language queries to uncover patterns in data. No layoffs are expected, and Lumi co-founder and CTO Tudor Boiangiu joins Newforma as vice president of AI engineering. The acquisition follows similar moves by Procore, Autodesk, and Trimble to leverage project data.
This week's construction news includes HNTB being selected by Amtrak to provide architectural and engineering services for replacing two Maryland bridges, Turner Construction reporting a 5.5% year-over-year cost increase in Q3, CMAA naming Michael Mendick as board chair, AECOM appointing Dwight Pullen as global transportation chief, and Manhattan Construction's Brian Killion retiring after 43 years.