Sustainability
FlatironDragados-Sukut JV lands $1.8B California dam project
The Santa Clara Valley Water District announced that it has awarded the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project contract to a joint venture formed by FlatironDragados and Sukut, with a contract amount of $1.88 billion and a total project cost of $2.8 billion. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and last seven years, involving the reconstruction of most of the dam structure and spillway, as well as the installation of new drainage pipelines.
Boston’s $10B coastal resilience infrastructure plan wins access to billions in federal funding
A risk management feasibility study released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week indicates that the federal government may cover 65% of the cost of Boston's nearly $10 billion coastal resilience infrastructure plan. The first draft of the plan covers more than 20 infrastructure projects along Boston's 16-mile coastline and is expected to avert approximately $41 billion in losses. Boston began sponsoring this study in 2022, with the final report expected to be released in 2028.
US data center electricity use could more than double by 2030: report
The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) released a report noting that energy and water consumption by data centers for AI and digital uses continues to rise, posing challenges for policymakers and community planners. In 2024, U.S. data centers used approximately 183 terawatt-hours of electricity, accounting for over 4% of national electricity use, with projections of a 133% increase to 426 terawatt-hours by 2030. Regarding water, direct consumption was 17 billion gallons in 2023, potentially doubling to quadrupling by 2028. The report also notes that data center growth is delaying coal plant closures and facing power generation shortages, with New York State already implementing a one-year construction moratorium.
Google inks investment, offtake deal for largest US solar project
Google announced on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with Cypress Creek Energy to invest in and purchase electricity from Steel River Energy Center, the largest solar facility in the United States. Located in Mississippi County, Arkansas, the project integrates solar and energy storage and is expected to be fully operational by 2029. Google will serve as the anchor investor and offtaker, with the first two phases of the project providing 1.6 gigawatts of direct current solar power and 1.9 gigawatt-hours of energy storage.
Carollo Engineers lands $210M California water contract
Following a $200 million water project win in Nevada in April, Carollo Engineers has secured a $210 million construction management contract for Phase 1 of the Ophir Water Treatment Plant in Placer County, California. Phase 1 will add 10 million gallons per day of treatment capacity, serving approximately 10,000 households.
The tariff storm has a silver lining. And it belongs to preconstruction.
Since tariffs took effect in early 2025, construction costs have surged, exposing the drawbacks of traditional project models. By identifying material risks early and optimizing procurement strategies, pre-construction is shifting from the periphery to the core, becoming a key reliance for owners navigating uncertainty.
Beyond winning work: The key to contractors’ sustained growth
When pursuing growth, contractors are often exposed to significant losses due to mismatches among contract terms, risk allocation, and insurance coverage. Based on industry practices, this article analyzes key stages such as bid-stage review, understanding of indemnity clauses, adjustments to insurance programs, and risk management of subcontractors, emphasizing the value of early collaboration and professional advisors to help contractors achieve sustainable growth.
Walbridge uses contech to reduce waste on $2.5B Ford build
Detroit-based builder Walbridge, on Ford's $2.5 billion manufacturing facility project in Marshall, Michigan, partnered with Grand Rapids-based Woodchuck, using an AI-driven waste sorting platform to achieve 40% of the project's expected material savings in the first three months of collaboration, with plans to divert 8,000 tons of wood and 1,000 tons of cardboard, plastic, and metal from landfills over the project's duration.
Efficient buildings attract high prices, but agent knowledge is low: NAR
NAR's sustainability survey of commercial real estate brokers found that although most brokers agree on the value of energy efficiency and green building features, only 13% of respondents' commercial information exchange (CIE) systems have green data fields, and most brokers rarely encounter such properties. The survey also shows that tenants are highly interested in green amenities, but buyers and tenants still regard hard costs as the primary consideration.
New York City invests $68 million to transform Brooklyn's Prospect Park into a natural buffer against extreme rainfall
In response to the frequent extreme rainfall caused by climate change, New York City announced a $68 million investment in Brooklyn's Prospect Park to build the borough's first Bluebelt system. The project will upgrade lake drainage facilities, create new ponds and rain gardens to naturally mitigate flood risks, and complement the existing lakeshore restoration plan.