Construction News for the Week Ending June 12, 2026
Minnesota Judge Halts Google’s Project Skyway Construction
A Minnesota judge halted construction on Google’s Project Skyway data center campus in Pine Island due to concerns about the environmental review process. The ruling, sought by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, pauses work on the 482-acre campus, potentially costing the general contractor, Ryan Cos., $5 million or more.
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LEED-Certified North American Stadiums
Since 2014, 31 North American stadiums have achieved LEED certification for their energy-efficient and environmentally friendly features. These include solar panels, LED lighting, and on-site gardens, as seen in Levi’s Stadium and MetLife Stadium. The USGBC released an interactive map showcasing these features and their impact on sustainability.
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Fisk Electric Wins $48M Houston Contract
Tutor Perini’s subsidiary, Fisk Electric, secured a $48 million contract for electrical work at a Houston manufacturing plant producing data center components. The project, emphasizing power density and system redundancy, is on a fast track with overlapping design, procurement, and construction phases.
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Twin Cities Construction Activity Declines Amid Economic Uncertainty
Construction activity in the Twin Cities area declined this spring, with 54% of firms reporting lower activity compared to last year. Economic uncertainty, competition for fewer projects, and labor shortages are key concerns, particularly impacting residential and commercial construction. While industrial and infrastructure work, especially data center construction, remain strong, smaller firms are feeling the greatest pressure.
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AI Drives Data Center Boom, Boosts Manufacturers Despite Challenges
The surge in data center construction, driven by the adoption of artificial intelligence, is creating a significant business opportunity for manufacturers. Companies like Southeastern Hose are experiencing exponential growth in revenue, with data center orders becoming a major source of business. However, manufacturers face challenges such as the need for significant capital expenditures to expand capacity and navigate a tight labor market and rising energy costs.
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Dodge Momentum Index Rises 5.9% in May
The Dodge Momentum Index, measuring nonresidential construction planning, rose 5.9% in May, driven by data centers and improvements in office, retail, healthcare, government, and religious building sectors. Despite this growth, labor constraints, material costs, and supply chain pressures remain concerns.
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Bears Explore New Stadium Options Amid Illinois Incentive Failure
The Chicago Bears are considering a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, after the Illinois legislature failed to pass a bill incentivizing the team to stay. The Bears are also considering a site in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and previously proposed a $4.2 billion stadium on Chicago’s lakefront. Indiana has offered over $1 billion in incentives for the new stadium.
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East Wing Had Fallen Into Disrepair Since World War II
President Trump ordered the demolition of the White House East Wing for a new ballroom, citing national security, event space needs, and structural issues. The East Wing, built in 1902 and renovated in 1942, was deemed structurally unsound and in need of upgrades.
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Steel City Tunnel Partners Secures $1 Billion Contract for Ohio River Tunnel
Steel City Tunnel Partners, a joint venture of Lane Construction and Brayman Construction, won a $1 billion contract to construct the Ohio River Tunnel in Pittsburgh. The tunnel is part of ALCOSAN’s Clean Water Plan, which aims to reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in the region.
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Micron and Bechtel Partner for NY Semiconductor Facility
Micron has partnered with Bechtel for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the first phase of its $100 billion semiconductor manufacturing complex in Clay, New York. This partnership advances the project, which will be the nation’s largest semiconductor manufacturing facility, closer to completion.
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House Passes Faster Labor Contracts Act
The House passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act, aiming to expedite union contract negotiations. The bill sets deadlines for negotiations and provides recourse for disputes, favoring unions. While some support the bill for empowering workers, others criticize it for potentially undermining voluntary negotiations and increasing government involvement in labor contracts.
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McCarthy and Palantir Partner to Boost AI in Construction
McCarthy Building Cos. has partnered with Palantir to enhance its AI capabilities. The partnership will focus on developing a connected AI operating system, Pulse, to support construction teams from design to field execution. This collaboration will also involve integrating Palantir engineers into McCarthy’s tech team to build custom software solutions.
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Lawsuit Seeks to Block Trump’s DEI Executive Order
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit against President Trump have requested a Maryland judge to block his executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion activities among federal contractors. The plaintiffs argue the order violates the 1st and 5th Amendments and the Administrative Procedure Act. The order requires federal contractors to agree not to engage in racially discriminatory DEI activities or risk contract cancellation.
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Meta’s Workforce Academy Initiative
Meta launched America’s Workforce Academy, a $115 million initiative providing free skilled-trades training and guaranteed job opportunities on data center construction projects. The program, launching in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas, will offer training in electrical, mechanical, and piping trades, with graduates eligible for jobs on Meta data center projects.
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Construction Input Prices Surge in May
Construction input prices rose 2.6% in May and are up 9.6% year over year, driven by fuel and metals costs. This puts pressure on contractor margins as material costs outpace what firms can charge for new work.
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Indictment of Ross and Rhodes for Kickback Scheme
A former Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) property director, Ryan Ross, and Vanessa Rhodes, president of a construction company, were indicted for allegedly receiving kickbacks in exchange for awarding over $4.8 million in contracts to Rhodes’ company. The indictment claims Ross used his position to steer contracts to Rhodes’ company and another affiliated company, submitting false documents to conceal the scheme. This indictment highlights the importance of accountability in safeguarding public funds and ensuring fair competition in public housing contracts.
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