March 17, 2025

Check out the March 17, 2025 edition of ENR, featuring the Best of the Best Projects, Project of the Year, the County of San Diego Southeastern Live Well Center, news and more!

ENR Best of the Best 2024

March 13, 2025

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The 20 projects recognized here are the result of a nearly yearlong effort by ENR editors and roughly 100 construction industry members who judged contest entries at various stages.

Best of the Best Winners

Project of the Year: Design-Builders Over-Deliver for Underserved Community

Scott Judy

March 13, 2025

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To successfully deliver the Southeast Live Well Center in San Diego, the design-build team deeply involved community members on every detail.

History

From the Archives: August 5, 1920

Scott Lewis

March 17, 2025

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This 1920 cover image depicts a four-man team doing high-speed block-laying as part of a channel improvement project on the Miami River in Dayton, Ohio.

From the Archives: The Fight to Racially Integrate the US Construction Industry

Scott Lewis

March 14, 2025

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The structure of the U.S. construction industry in 1960 could be compared to a stone-walled bastion. Union locals had ironclad control over their recruitment process, which was steeped in nepotism and cronyism.

Workforce

Leaders at Ironworkers' IMPACT Conference Focus on Growth Opportunities

Pam McFarland

March 10, 2025

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Mood at annual IMPACT conference in Orlando was upbeat as more than 1,200 union and signatory contractors members gathered.

Energy

NRG, GE Vernova and Kiewit Will Build 5 GW of Power Plants for Data Centers

James Leggate

February 27, 2025

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Firms will construct plants in undisclosed locations in Texas and the mid-Atlantic region, with the first 1.2-GW facility set to operate in 2029, but no project investment total was disclosed.

Discrimination

Minnesota Joins Suit by Fired Drywall Worker Who Reported Sexual Harassment and Rape

Annemarie Mannion

March 5, 2025

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State agency supports employee victim's suit against Absolute Drywall, claiming it violated state law for enabling sexual harassment and rape by co-worker who pleaded guilty.

The Great Recalibration: Fed Spending Cuts So Far Hurt But Don't Devastate

Trouble signals are not flashing at ICF, KBR and Leidos, companies report

Richard Korman

March 4, 2025

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Tech acquisitions are spotlighted in industry firms' recent quarterly earnings calls as the federal contracting landscape continues to shift.

Water Infrastructure

Construction Steams Ahead on Treasure Island Wastewater Facility

Aileen Cho

March 5, 2025

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New treatment plant is expected to enable more housing construction for future residents of the artificial island in San Francisco Bay.

Advanced Clean Energy

Next-Gen $4B Nuclear Power Plant in Wyo. Gets Key Approvals, Union Labor Agreement

Mary B. Powers

March 6, 2025

One Comment

Developer TerraPower and contractor Bechtel will work under union pact to build a proposed 345-MW sodium-cooled fast nuclear reactor in Wyoming.

Advanced Manufacturing

Intel Delays Completion of First Ohio Plant to 2030

James Leggate

March 4, 2025

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The company says it plans a slower pace for construction to better align with demand.

Manufacturing

TSMC, Trump Announce $100B Investment in US Semiconductor Facilities

First semiconductor manufacturing projects will be in and around Phoenix, Ariz.

Jeff Yoders

March 4, 2025

One Comment

President Trump and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei announced the company's $100-billion investment in U.S. chip manufacturing facilities in Arizona, a total of five new plants.

Energy

Michigan Appeals Court Affirms State Approval for Line 5 Energy Pipeline Fix

James Leggate

February 26, 2025

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Controversial rebuild of a pair of 20-in.-dia pipes resting on the lake bottom with a single 30-in.-dia pipe inside a concrete-lined tunnel still needs federal permit approval and has opponents.

Construction Begins on Nation's First Direct-to-Distribution Water Reuse Facility

Aileen Cho

February 28, 2025

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The $295M project will be built by PCL and Sundt.

Executive News

ESI CEO Resigns After Nazi Salute Video Goes Viral

James Leggate

February 26, 2025

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Thomas Hill, who had led the Idaho contractor, apologized in a statement, saying "that no context or excuse can mitigate the pain associated with this symbol.”

A construction worker wearing an orange shirt and gloves, white hardhat and yellow vest holds up a wooden beam, with the frame of a structure in the background.

Materials

New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, Expected to Drive Up Construction Prices

Alisa Zevin

March 5, 2025

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The tariffs being implemented are in addition to the 25% fee on steel and aluminum imports announced last month.

Workforce

Construction Women Reach Beyond New Diversity Barriers as Needed Leaders

Groundbreaking Women in Construction conference in New York City reacted strongly to Trump attacks on DEI

March 4, 2025

Policy attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion caused some angst at the ENR Groundbreaking Women in Construction conference Feb. 24-25, but courts have halted the Trump changes and industry talent development won't be deterred.

Government

Federal Funding for $1.1B North Carolina Bridge Replacement Paused, NCDOT Says

James Leggate

March 6, 2025

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The $1.1-billion Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement is still in design, but a $242-million federal grant is on hold after an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Clean Energy

Court Halts Takedown of Oklahoma Wind Project Ordered by Year End

Doug Puppel

March 11, 2025

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Judge agrees to suspend Dec. 1 removal deadline that developer Enel claims could cost up to $259 million as a new court weighs in on its financial dispute with the Osage tribe.

Renewable Energy

Industry Anticipates Geothermal Energy Growth Burst in the US

Doug Puppel

Debra K. Rubin

March 6, 2025

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The power source is gaining ground from emerging technology, cost reduction, private investment and possible buy in from the new administration.

The Boeing Company - Building Exterior.jpg

Manufacturing

Boeing Picks BE&K/HITT for Infrastructure Portion of $1B South Carolina Expansion

Derek Lacey

March 4, 2025

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Manufacturer aims to complete $1 billion in upgrades in 2027 to expand Its unit that fabricates, assembles and delivers 787 Dreamliner airplanes.

Military Projects

Navy Raises Tutor Perini-Nan's Guam Breakwater Contract to $563M

James Leggate

February 28, 2025

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The contractors are repairing Apra Harbor's Glass Breakwater, which was damaged by a typhoon and at risk of breach.

Acelab Materials Hub Brings AI to Architectural Specification

Jeff Yoders

March 13, 2025

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Acelab, a materials and construction products startup with $13 million in funding has released Materials Hub, an artificial intelligence-powered repository that allows architects and designers to discover, evaluate and specify building materials.

Commentary

Why the Expiring Tax Break for Engineers Must Be Renewed

ENR Editorial Board

March 14, 2025

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The section of the federal tax code known as 199a will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress approves an extension.

Construction Economics for March 17, 2025

March 14, 2025

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ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

Live: June 4, 2026 at 2:00 pm EDT Your VDC team invests weeks in coordination: modeling, resolving clashes, aligning MEP, structural, and specialty systems down to the inch. But when it's time to build, not nearly enough of that work actually reaches the field. We'll walk through how Skanska made it work, the key decisions, and the hard lessons.

Our Publications

ENR

Cover Story

ENR Best of the Best 2024

Project of the Year: Design-Builders Over-Deliver for Underserved Community

News

From the Archives: August 5, 1920

From the Archives: The Fight to Racially Integrate the US Construction Industry

Leaders at Ironworkers' IMPACT Conference Focus on Growth Opportunities

NRG, GE Vernova and Kiewit Will Build 5 GW of Power Plants for Data Centers

Minnesota Joins Suit by Fired Drywall Worker Who Reported Sexual Harassment and Rape

The Great Recalibration: Fed Spending Cuts So Far Hurt But Don't Devastate

Construction Steams Ahead on Treasure Island Wastewater Facility

Next-Gen $4B Nuclear Power Plant in Wyo. Gets Key Approvals, Union Labor Agreement

Intel Delays Completion of First Ohio Plant to 2030

TSMC, Trump Announce $100B Investment in US Semiconductor Facilities

Michigan Appeals Court Affirms State Approval for Line 5 Energy Pipeline Fix

Construction Begins on Nation's First Direct-to-Distribution Water Reuse Facility

ESI CEO Resigns After Nazi Salute Video Goes Viral

New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, Expected to Drive Up Construction Prices

Construction Women Reach Beyond New Diversity Barriers as Needed Leaders

Federal Funding for $1.1B North Carolina Bridge Replacement Paused, NCDOT Says

Court Halts Takedown of Oklahoma Wind Project Ordered by Year End

Industry Anticipates Geothermal Energy Growth Burst in the US

Boeing Picks BE&K/HITT for Infrastructure Portion of $1B South Carolina Expansion

Navy Raises Tutor Perini-Nan's Guam Breakwater Contract to $563M

Departments

Acelab Materials Hub Brings AI to Architectural Specification

Why the Expiring Tax Break for Engineers Must Be Renewed

Construction Economics

Construction Economics for March 17, 2025

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