from Mark Smith, Advocate, California Builders Alliance
Federal Reserve officials warned the Iran war poses two-sided risks, with higher energy prices potentially fueling inflation while weaker growth could hit the labor market. Minutes show policymakers remain divided on the outlook, with some open to rate hikes if inflation persists even as others see risks that could justify easing.
The construction industry is facing uncertainty over material costs following adjustments to Section 232 tariffs that raise duties to as much as 50% on goods made almost entirely of steel, aluminum or copper. Contractors are finding it difficult to price jobs accurately, with the impact on project costs varying depending on the amount of tariffed metal in products. Tim Jed of DPR Construction notes that while some materials might see little change, others could experience significant cost increases.
|
Full Story: Construction Dive |
The Dodge Momentum Index rose 1.8% in March, driven primarily by data center projects, while most other commercial sectors and institutional planning saw declines. Major projects entering planning included the Amazon Data Center Campus in North Carolina and the Microsoft Data Center in Iowa.
|
Full Story: Dodge Construction Network |
Hyperscale data centers are reshaping construction by demanding faster delivery without compromising cost, safety or quality. Mark Whitson of DPR Construction notes that these projects require early decision-making, concurrency in project phases and repeatability in design. Prefabrication and workforce strategy are essential to managing large-scale projects efficiently. Whitson notes that these lessons are applicable to other industries, ensuring predictable outcomes and operational readiness.
|
Full Story: Building Design+Construction |
The construction industry is increasingly embracing technology, but startups face challenges in meeting the specific needs of builders. Turner Construction's Jim Barrett emphasizes that new solutions must be significantly better than existing ones to justify integration. Granite Construction's Aaron McClellan notes that many tech products are geared towards vertical construction, neglecting horizontal infrastructure. Startups are encouraged to tackle harder problems and gain more industry insight to create more effective solutions.
|
Full Story: Construction Dive |
Biowearable sensors are revolutionizing safety in the construction and energy industries by providing real-time physiological data to prevent heat stress, dehydration and fatigue. Unlike traditional safety protocols that rely on incident reports, these sensors allow for immediate intervention, protecting workers before injuries occur. Dr. Roozbeh Ghaffari of Epicore Biosystems highlights the potential of biowearables to empower workers with personal health data, improve regulatory compliance and foster a culture of prevention.
|
Full Story: For Construction Pros |
Turner Construction has named Dawn Paquette as chief information officer, succeeding Warren Kudman. Paquette previously was CIO at GE Aerospace and has held leadership roles at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. "Turner has an incredible legacy and scale, and at the same time there is a clear opportunity to further align technology, data and operations to drive simplicity, better decision making and more consistent execution across the business," Paquette says.
|
Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) |
March 2026 saw data centers increasingly bypassing traditional utility grids by building onsite 800-volt DC power architectures and sovereign power solutions like gas turbines and small modular reactors, forcing utilities into a "death spiral" as high-volume customers defect while blue-state governors publicly backed natural gas infrastructure as the only viable near-term answer to AI-driven electricity demand surges. Meanwhile, municipalities are reassessing data center tax incentives as facilities consume massive power and water resources while creating few jobs, driving engineering innovation in dry cooling and closed-loop water systems even as aging water infrastructure faces a trillion-dollar funding shortfall that has made water increasingly unaffordable to both fix and deliver.
|
Full Story: SmartBrief/Infrastructure |
Meta is using artificial intelligence to improve cement and concrete development, aiming to reduce costs, enhance efficiency and build supply chain resilience in the U.S. construction industry. The company is collaborating with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to address sustainability challenges and plans to spend $600 billion on AI developments over the next three years.
|
Full Story: Construction Dive/Social Media Today |
San Diego City College has selected Sundt Construction to build the Saville Performing Arts Center, replacing the existing Saville Theatre. The new center will feature a 350-seat main theater, rehearsal and dance spaces, recording areas, and improved accessibility. Design approvals are expected by 2027, with construction set to complete by 2030.
|
Full Story: ConstructConnect |
The U.S. Navy SEAL Museum is proposing a $256 million, large-scale waterfront facility on a former Navy site that would replace its current downtown San Diego location, which was always intended as a temporary preview space. The new project aims to create a significantly expanded, "world-class" destination with room for full-scale exhibits and increased visitor capacity, aligning with long-term plans to grow beyond the existing, space-constrained museum opened in 2025. 
|
Full Story: The San Diego Union-Tribune (tiered subscription model) |
|
Sausalito mandates low-carbon concrete in all new construction |
The Sausalito, Calif., City Council has adopted a mandate for the use of low-carbon concrete in construction as part of an update to the energy and building code to meet state law and environmental standards. "Low-carbon concrete standards address emissions from construction materials, specifically concrete, which is a significant source of embodied carbon," says Alexandra Anderson, the city's sustainability and resiliency manager.
|
Full Story: Marin Independent Journal (San Rafael, Calif.) |
|
Sausalito mandates low-carbon concrete in all new construction |
The Sausalito, Calif., City Council has adopted a mandate for the use of low-carbon concrete in construction as part of an update to the energy and building code to meet state law and environmental standards. "Low-carbon concrete standards address emissions from construction materials, specifically concrete, which is a significant source of embodied carbon," says Alexandra Anderson, the city's sustainability and resiliency manager.
|
Full Story: Marin Independent Journal (San Rafael, Calif.) |
The city of Indio, Calif., plans to break ground this summer on a $45 million police headquarters as part of the Public Safety Campus on Bristol Street. The 43,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by spring 2028 and will serve as the central hub for law enforcement operations.
|
Full Story: Patch/Palm Desert |
-----------------------------------------------
Mark Smith
Advocate
California Builders Alliance
5370 Elvas Avenue ǀ Sacramento, CA 95819
Cell: 916.335.5072
Email: mark.smith@calbuilders.org
Email: mark@smithpolicygroup.com
