Healthcare development joined data center projects in lifting construction planning growth in May, according to Dodge Construction Network.
The Dodge Momentum Index, a measure of nonresidential construction projects entering the planning stages, increased 5.9% month to month in May, according to Dodge Construction Network. The monthly growth builds on April’s 6.2% gain after a sluggish start to the year for much of construction activity outside of the data center boom.
“Nonresidential planning continued to stabilize throughout May,” said Sarah Martin, director of economic research at Dodge Construction Network. “Nonetheless, the broader outlook remains cautious, as persistent labor constraints, elevated material costs and ongoing supply chain pressures weigh on owner sentiment in the near term.”
Data center activity continues to account for much of the momentum in the index, added Martin, but other key commercial building sectors gained traction as well. For example, planning activity improved over the month for traditional office and retail stores, according to Dodge.
On the institutional side, planning increased 3.1% month to month in May, according to the report. The uptick came as healthcare projects accelerated again in May, according to Dodge, alongside growth in government and religious building activity. Construction planning around educational and recreational projects slowed down, on the other hand.
Without a doubt, the primary driver for planning growth this year continues to be data centers. Commercial planning increased 41.2% year over year in May, but without data center projects, that gain shrinks to 6.6%.
The index sat 33.8% higher than May 2025, according to Dodge. A total of 29 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning in May, according to Dodge.
Major commercial projects included:
- The EDCAUS11 and EDCAUS12 data centers in Bastrop, Texas, each valued at an estimated $437 million.
- The $432 million Wallace Jackson Industrial Park data center in Griffin, Georgia.
The largest institutional projects to enter planning included:
- The $400 million Coast Guard Training Center modernization project in Cape May, New Jersey.
- The $400 million Fisk University Innovation Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
- The $241 million Harborview Yesler Terrace Medical Office in Seattle.
