Construction Dive’s Friday Punch List is a series dedicated to sharing major building headlines that contractors may have missed from the week.
This week, Bechtel’s split from TerraPower’s high-profile Wyoming nuclear project grabbed readers’ attention. In addition, Virginia issued new data center rules, joining other states that are trying to balance public pushback against the builds with economic opportunity.
Read on for other news from the week construction execs should know about.
Georgia health system commits to $600M hospital
Piedmont, a giant in the Georgia healthcare space, has announced its intention to build a $600 million hospital in Newton County, Georgia, according to a Tuesday announcement. The entire cost will be borne by the healthcare network.
The new hospital will serve as the relocation hospital for Piedmont Newton Hospital, located in Covington, per the announcement. The current hospital, originally built in 1954, is licensed for 128 beds, but is hampered by aging physical infrastructure, per the healthcare giant.
The investment represents the second-largest capital project in Piedmont’s history, per the announcement. It also builds on the organization’s nearly $2 billion of investment in expansion projects over the past five years.
—Matthew Thibault
Skanska wins $84M data center
Skanska signed a $84 million contract to construct a data center in Georgia for an existing, undisclosed client, according to a Tuesday news release.
Work will include building a roughly 245,000-square-foot data center with five colocation halls and administration spaces for 48 megawatts of capacity. The Stockholm-based builder will deliver civil, structural, utilities, electrical, mechanical, security, interior amenities and fit-out work.
Construction will begin in November and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2028, per the release.
—Zachary Phillips
Fortis Construction expands with manufacturing, tech unit
As manufacturing and tech projects continue to carry the construction industry, one contractor has built a new unit to capitalize on the momentum.
Fortis Construction, an employee-owned builder based in Portland, Oregon, has created a new Industrial Business Unit, according to a Monday announcement. It will focus on emerging energy, technology and manufacturing projects.
The unit will be led by Matt Laccinole, who has three decades of experience leading heavy industrial and manufacturing projects, per the announcement. He has also participated in acquisition and integration efforts for the firm.
“As investment accelerates in technology, advanced manufacturing and supporting infrastructure, we're well-positioned to help clients bring these transformative projects to life,” Laccinole said in the announcement.
—Matthew Thibault
NIBS CEO joins federal advisory committee
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has tapped George Guszcza, president and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences, to join its National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee. Guszcza will help improve building practices and construction safety, according to a Wednesday news release.
The federal advisory committee provides guidance to NIST on investigations into building failures. Those investigations inform recommendations to codes, standards and public safety, according to the release.
Throughout his career, Guszcza has worked extensively on disaster recovery, infrastructure resilience, healthcare facilities and emergency response initiatives, according to NIBS. In the new role, Guszcza plans to understand the causes of building failures and translate those lessons into safer design, construction and operational practices, he said in the release.
—Sebastian Obando
