Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] With 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 already standing today, decarbonising the UK's existing building stock is one of the biggest - and most urgent-challenges in achieving national net zero targets. Building
• [New] The U.S. Department of War will invest in the construction of a 100 metric ton-per-year advanced gallium refinery in Western Australia, further advancing self-reliance in critical minerals processing. The White House
• [New] Meta is building a new AI-optimized data center in El Paso, Texas, that will scale to 1 GW, create over 1,800 construction jobs, and prioritize sustainability and clean energy. Vavoza
• [New] The Padeswood CCS project will enable the production of evoZero, the world's first carbon captured net-zero cement, which will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonization aims. Edie
• [New] The Janus Program will build on lessons learned from Project Pele, a transportable nuclear reactor which is the first electricity-producing Generation IV nuclear reactor to begin construction anywhere in the world outside of China. www.army.mil
• [New] Roughly US$170bn of data center asset value will require new construction lending or permanent financing in 2025 alone. Bizclik Media Ltd
• [New] With data center construction projected to surpass $46 billion in starts for 2025, a 55% year-over-year increase, companies like AECOM, Jacobs Engineering Group, and Quanta Services (also a key player in power infrastructure) are seeing robust demand. FinancialContent
• [New] In July, China started construction on what will, upon completion, be the world's largest power station, a giant hydroelectric facility in Tibet. New Hampshire Bulletin
• [New] Construction has begun in Linz on Hy4Smelt, the world's first industrial-scale demonstration steel plant that will combine hydrogen direct reduction technology with an electric arc furnace. GMK.CENTER
• [New] Foreign construction of ASCs is a temporary measure to bridge a critical capability gap while spurring future domestic shipbuilding investment that will ensure the Coast Guard has the full supply of cutters it requires. / USA The White House
• [New] Modular construction in Canada is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% through the forecast period, reaching approximately $6.4 billion CAD by 2029, driven primarily by the lodging, education, and multifamily segments. Modular Building Institute
• [New] Geopolitical and Manufacturing Shifts: Governments are actively investing in domestic semiconductor manufacturing, with new fabrication facilities by TSMC, Intel, and Samsung expected to begin operations and expand in the US between 2025 and 2028. FinancialContent
• [New] Adnoc Gas's under-construction Ruwais LNG facility will raise its annual production capacity to 15.6 million tonnes once operational in 2028, up from 6 million tonnes. AGBI
• [New] HydraVault will begin construction this fall on a Tier 3-compatible data center in Chicago, designed for AI, machine learning, and low-latency financial trading. DataCenterKnowledge
• [New] The massive project will create 7,200 construction jobs and 900 permanent positions while establishing the largest data center campus in Mexico, designed to accommodate cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Mexico News Daily
• [New] Coastal communities across the UK are set to benefit from £1.1 billion in joint government and industry investment for the maritime sector, which will unlock growth and jobs, including in the engineering, green technology and construction sectors. GOV.UK
• [New] On Darwin Harbour sits a construction project that has so far taken 10 years, blown out by hundreds of millions of dollars, and is not predicted to be finished by its 2027 deadline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• With nearly 20% of global buildings needing low carbon retrofits by 2030, Quay Quarter Tower delivers a replicable roadmap. ARUP
• Shell's decision to stop construction of a Rotterdam biofuel plant, expected to be one of Europe's biggest converters of waste to jet fuel, will make SAF rarer and dearer. The Guardian

Last updated: 22 October 2025