Construction News for the Week Ending December 26, 2025
Construction starts cool in November amid megaproject slowdown, Dodge reports
Construction starts fell 20.5% in November, primarily due to a slowdown in megaprojects. While nonresidential and nonbuilding starts declined, residential construction saw a rare positive month.
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Alta Metro Center development in Aurora
Wood Partners and Clarion Partners broke ground on the 365-unit Alta Metro Center project in Aurora, Colorado. The development, slated for delivery in early 2028, will feature a mix of apartment layouts, amenities, and be located within an Opportunity Zone.
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Apartment sales decline in November, portfolio activity surges
Apartment sales volume fell 22% year over year in November, with individual asset trades dropping 37% but portfolio activity increasing 56%. While some anticipate a pickup in sales in 2026, particularly in markets like San Francisco, the overall sales market remains tight and challenging.
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Multifamily construction numbers questioned amid economic uncertainty
Multifamily construction starts in July increased significantly, but industry experts are skeptical of the Census Bureau’s numbers. They believe the reported increase doesn’t align with the current economic environment, including high interest rates and capital market uncertainty.
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San Francisco’s family zoning plan: a step towards increased housing
San Francisco approved a family zoning plan to increase housing and density, aiming to create 36,000 new units. While the plan is expected to generate fewer units, it is anticipated to positively impact the city’s economy.
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Groundbreaking $15b data center in Wisconsin begins
Construction has begun on a $15 billion data center campus in Port Washington, Wisconsin, as part of the $500 billion Stargate initiative. The project, spanning 672 acres, will include four data centers with nearly 1 gigawatt of computing capacity and is expected to be completed in 2028.
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WSP acquires TRC companies for $3.3 billion to expand power and energy services
Montreal-based WSP acquired U.S.-based TRC Companies for $3.3 billion to expand its power and energy offerings. The deal, funded through a public offering and private placement, will leverage TRC’s expertise and 8,000 employees to enhance WSP’s utility and infrastructure value chain. This acquisition aligns with WSP’s aggressive M&A strategy, following recent purchases of Ricardo and Lexica.
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AIS Infrastructure secures $2 billion in southern border contracts
AIS Infrastructure, through its subsidiary BCSS, secured approximately $2 billion in contracts from DHS and CBP for border infrastructure projects. The projects, located near Eagle Pass, Texas; Lukeville, Arizona; and Marron Valley and Campo, California, involve design-build efforts for vertical barriers, roads, and security systems. AIS plans to expand its workforce and equipment to meet the project demands.
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SPEED Act passes House to modernize NEPA and boost AI infrastructure
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the SPEED Act, a bipartisan bill aiming to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act and expedite federal approval of infrastructure projects. This comes as tech companies, including Google, AWS, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia, collaborate with the Trump administration to expand AI capabilities and infrastructure through the Genesis Mission. The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.
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Construction activity declines in Fed’s Ninth District amid rising costs and competition
Construction activity in the Federal Reserve’s Ninth District declined slightly over the past six months, with rising input costs pressuring margins and increasing competition for nonresidential work. Despite softer activity, labor demand remains strong, driven by retirements and specialized labor shortages.
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