AI-curated news for your industry

As the demand for data center construction surges, the construction industry faces the dual challenges of a skilled worker shortage and resistance to AI applications. This article analyzes the reasons behind worker resistance and proposes leveraging leadership guidance, a safe learning environment, and practical AI tool applications to drive the industry's transformation from traditional manual methods to digital collaboration, addressing future construction pressures.

In 1996, Nextel launched the Direct Connect iDEN network, changing the way construction sites communicated. Although the network was shut down in 2013, its core concept—fast, reliable, dedicated communication—is now realized on 4G/5G networks. This article reviews the rise and fall of Nextel and explores how modern solutions have surpassed its limitations.

Turner Construction's first-quarter 2026 revenue was $7.7 billion, up 25% year-over-year; backlog stood at $48.9 billion, up 34% year-over-year; and new awards reached $12.1 billion, up 48% year-over-year. The company has won 10 projects each expected to exceed $1 billion in value, surpassing its full-year 2025 level. Data center, commercial, and healthcare projects were the primary growth drivers.

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Edward Foster testified before the Senate on May 13 that Congress has continuously diverted funds from the Federal Buildings Fund it manages since 2011, totaling $15.6 billion over 15 years ($22 billion adjusted for inflation), leaving nearly half of the agency's 1,600 properties in fair or poor condition. GSA is seeking congressional approval to fully use rental and sale proceeds and to raise the threshold for single-project approvals from $3.96 million to $75 million.

A $2.3 billion Florida highway project that once promised contractors approximately $255 million in profits ultimately turned into losses exceeding $500 million and sparked an $80 million lawsuit. The U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling against Lane Construction in April, determining that its attempt to exit the I-4 Ultimate project through legal theories was unfounded. The case provides contractors with profound lessons on consortium cooperation, conflicts of interest, and the risks of contract termination in P3 projects.

Engineering News-Record's 2026 Top 400 US Commercial Contractors list was released on Wednesday. Turner Construction of New York topped the list for the sixth consecutive year with $28.3 billion in revenue; Bechtel of Reston, Virginia, continued to rank second; and STO Building Group of New York jumped from sixth last year to third, pushing Kiewit of Omaha, Nebraska, down to fourth. The list shows that the AI data center construction boom has driven significant revenue growth among top firms, but the industry also faces multiple pressures including tariffs, the Iran situation, and skilled labor shortages.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Forbes has released its first-ever list of the largest family-owned businesses in the U.S. Among the 100 companies on the list, more than one-fifth are construction or construction-related businesses, covering general contractors, building material suppliers, utility contractors, and more. Companies such as Bechtel, HITT Contracting, Quikrete, and 84 Lumber are all included.

When selecting core executives, construction business owners must go beyond conventional hiring thinking, focusing on candidates' growth trajectory, willingness to take responsibility, and family support, and conduct in-depth assessments through scenario-based interviews.

The EEOC filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Advanced Technology Group, Inc., alleging the company allowed Mexican colleagues at a Rio Rancho, New Mexico worksite to subject two American workers to 'anti-American' slurs, theft of tools, and mockery of their limited Spanish proficiency, constituting national origin discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One worker was fired the day after escalating a complaint, with the company citing safety violations as the reason, but documents show the reason as 'argument.' EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas emphasized protecting all workers from anti-American bias.

With the arrival of the spring construction season, road work zones pose a serious threat to trucking and passenger vehicles. This article analyzes the causes of risk and calls on the industry to leverage existing technology, strengthen training and accountability, and prioritize safety prevention rather than reactive response.