Data center planning lost steam in August, but momentum picked up in other sectors to keep overall numbers relatively flat, according to Dodge Construction Network.
The Dodge Momentum Index, a measure of nonresidential construction projects entering the planning stages, ticked down 0.4% month over month in August, according to a Tuesday news release.
The slight decrease followed July’s 6.9% jump in total planning, when data centers posted gains, according to the report.
“Strength in planning momentum remained relatively broad-based in August,” said Sarah Martin, director of economic research at Dodge Construction Network, in the release. “Weaker data center planning predominantly drove the flatter trend, while most other sectors saw an acceleration in planning momentum.”
Planning in certain commercial sectors, namely offices and hotel construction, for example, improved month over month in August, according to Dodge. On the institutional side, education and public building projects also posted month-over-month gains in August, according to the report.
On the other end of the commercial spectrum, retail stores and warehouses posted lower planning figures during the monthly span. Healthcare activity also slightly pulled back in the institutional category after four months of sustained growth, according to Dodge.
Despite a slowdown in the booming data center sector, total construction planning still leads last year’s pace on a year-over-year basis. The DMI increased 4.2% compared with August 2025, according to Dodge. Both commercial and institutional planning have posted growth, up 2.3% and 7.8%, respectively, during that span.
But data centers continue to distort the annual comparison within the commercial segment, noted the Dodge report. For example, with data center planning removed, commercial planning would be down 18.9% from August 2025, according to the report.
A total of 31 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning in August. The largest commercial projects included:
- Two $462 million EdgeConneX data centers in Bastrop, Texas.
- The $378 million first phase of a Bitdeer data center in Shalersville Township, Ohio.
- A $358 million data center in Secaucus, New Jersey.
The largest institutional projects to enter planning included:
- The $350 million Colosseum Sports Resort in Stafford, Virginia.
- The $350 million Commonwealth Courts building in Richmond, Virginia.
- The $350 million Holistic Health and Fitness building in Newport News, Virginia.
