Construction News for the Week Ending July 10, 2026
Ventana DBS Awarded $42.4 Million in Damages by Philadelphia Court
A Philadelphia court awarded Ventana DBS, a subcontractor, $42.4 million in damages from Tutor Perini for material breaches of contract during the construction of the W and Element hotels. The court found Tutor Perini concealed knowledge of concrete defects and blamed Ventana for delays.
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Edison Tower Foreclosure and Sale Potential
The unfinished Edison tower in Milwaukee, initially touted as the tallest mass timber building in America, may be sold after a foreclosure judgment was granted to general contractor C.D. Smith Construction Inc. The project faced a $25 million funding gap and halted construction in September 2025 due to tariff and inflation pressures.
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Dodge Momentum Index: Mixed Trends in June Construction Planning
The Dodge Momentum Index, measuring nonresidential construction planning, decreased 1.9% in June due to a slowdown in data center planning. However, planning for other commercial sectors like offices, warehouses, retail, and hotels improved, and institutional project planning grew 10.9%.
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Skanska Completes First Phase of Jackson Memorial ER Renovation
Skanska USA completed the first phase of a $400 million renovation and expansion of the emergency room at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. The 178,000 square-foot addition doubled the original footprint and includes exam rooms, resuscitation rooms, triage rooms, and a dedicated second floor for patient care. The second phase will expand the existing emergency room and the third phase will add a new floor and improve helipad access.
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Enhancing Building Envelopes for Energy Efficiency
Building envelope improvements, such as insulation, air sealing, and window retrofits, are crucial for electrifying heating and cooling systems. These improvements can significantly reduce energy use and loads in both new and existing buildings, making them more sustainable and efficient.
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CTA Red and Purple Line Modernization Reaches Milestone
Fluor and Walsh Construction reached substantial completion on phase one of the Chicago Transit Authority’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line modernization. The project, the largest completed capital project in CTA history, includes track replacements, station rebuilds, and the installation of new signaling.
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Tampa Bay Rays Seek Construction Manager for New Ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays are seeking a construction manager at risk for a new $2.3 billion ballpark in Tampa, Florida. The stadium, designed by Populous, is expected to be completed by December 31, 2028, with a target final completion by March 1, 2029.
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Federal Agencies Update White House on Employment Law Reforms
Federal agencies, including the Department of Labor and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, provided updates on regulatory efforts to the White House. The updates included timelines for proposed and final rules on worker classification, work hours for minors, protections for pregnant workers, and disparate impact liability theory. The Trump administration aims to reshape federal employment law compliance, particularly in antidiscrimination and wage-and-hour contexts.
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Manhattan Construction Site Faces Structural Crisis
Structural issues on the 21st floor of a Manhattan construction site, including buckled columns and sagging floors, led to evacuations and road closures. The building, undergoing a commercial-to-residential conversion, remains unstable, with concerns about the integrity of the structure and potential for further collapse. Officials are monitoring the situation and plan to shore up the building once it is deemed safe.
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May Construction Growth Driven by AI Projects
Construction indicators improved in May, driven by data center projects. While healthcare and infrastructure work supported activity, the growth was primarily attributed to AI-related construction, highlighting the sector’s exceptional demand.
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DOT earmarks $1.73B in BUILD grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $1.73 billion in 2026 BUILD grants for 127 transportation projects across the U.S. Roads and bridges received the majority of funding, followed by transit, port infrastructure, freight and passenger rail, truck parking, and aviation.
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Virginia Tech’s Mitchell Hall Tops Out at $292 Million
Virginia Tech and contractor Skanska topped out Mitchell Hall, the largest engineering building on campus, with a total construction cost of $292 million. The five-story, 285,500-square-foot facility, built around the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel, will include classrooms, research laboratories, and office spaces, and is expected to be complete in winter 2028.
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U.S. Employment Market: Slower Growth and Pessimistic Outlook
The U.S. employment market is experiencing slower payroll growth, with a “low hire, low fire” trend. While unemployment claims remain low, an increase in initial claims and a pessimistic hiring outlook suggest a potential slowdown.
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