Dive Brief:
- Edmonton, Alberta-based PCL Construction is opening a new commercial building office in Phoenix, which the company said will help it capitalize on the area’s potential for construction work, according to an April 30 news release.
- The company, whose U.S. headquarters is located in Denver, said the decision to open the office came after market analysis pegged Phoenix as a critical growth hub for aviation, hospitality, commercial and retail development, according to the release.
- To lead the effort, PCL tapped David Campbell, a 20-year PCL veteran, as the office’s district manager. Campbell previously led PCL's special projects team in Denver, the firm’s U.S. headquarters.
Dive Insight:
Campbell’s work portfolio includes managing the development of megaprojects such as New Jersey's American Dream Mall and renovations at the Naples Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort and Streamsong Golf Resort in Florida.
"Our goal is to build iconic structures that not only enhance the cityscape but also create lasting career opportunities for local talent," Campbell said in the release.
PCL cast the new Phoenix office as a step to build on its success in the region in the water and civil construction business, which has operated across the Southwest for more than 30 years, according to the news release. The team is currently working out of the company’s Civil division office in Tempe, Arizona.
Its commercial and retail focus contrasts with the tech-heavy builds the area has become known for. In recent years, the Phoenix area has seen an explosion in activity as semiconductor, data center and advanced manufacturing projects, worth billions of dollars, have cropped up in the region surrounding the city.
Other firms have targeted the tech market in the area — Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based Graycor tapped a new lead for its Southwest division to focus on advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and retail.
In addition, New York City-based construction consultancy Cumming Group has merged with Phoenix-based semiconductor advisory firm World Wide Professional Services to create what Cumming called the largest independent construction consultancy serving the U.S. semiconductor sector. Cumming projects that the semiconductor onshoring market will be worth nearly $250 billion in total capital investment in 2025.
For its part, PCL has launched its own manufacturing group, known as its Manufacturing Center of Excellence, to prepare for the predicted onshoring surge. Alongside life science and advanced manufacturing work, it will also look for jobs in sectors such as food and beverage, battery and electronics and semiconductor work.
