Construction Dive’s Friday Punch List is a series dedicated to sharing major building headlines that contractors may have missed from the week.
It was another busy week for construction news.
Oklahoma City unveiled a new multibillion-dollar airport expansion plan, which will add new gates and a light rail passenger connection, and Halmar wrapped work on the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium subway stop, part of the $965 million subway upgrade.
Read on for other construction news execs should be keyed into.
Royals select Legends Global as owner’s rep
The Kansas City Royals have selected Legends Global as the owner’s representative for the team’s new ballpark, which will anchor a $3 billion mixed-use development, according to a Thursday announcement. The New York City-based firm will represent the team’s interest in construction schedules and budgeting on the 34,000-seat, open-air ballpark in Kansas City, Missouri.
Legends Global will serve as a liaison to a joint venture of Mortenson and local contractor McCownGordon Construction, the team constructing the $1.9 billion ballpark. Groundbreaking on the stadium is anticipated for 2027, with completion in time for the 2030 season. JE Dunn will help construct the surrounding neighborhood in the broader 85-acre district.
Legends Global currently serves as owner’s representative on new professional sports projects for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dallas Mavericks, the recently opened Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium and the multiyear renovation of the Toronto Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre.
—Zachary Phillips
Skanska wins $163M NYC waterfront job
Stockholm-based Skanska has won a $163 million contract to build the East Side Greenway 14th Street Connector in New York City, the contractor announced Wednesday. The project seeks to provide a continuous waterfront connection between East River Park and Captain Patrick J. Brown Walk.
Scope includes construction of a new esplanade along the East River — which will feature a shared pedestrian and bicycle path — along with improved landscaping, lighting, seating and other public amenities.
The design engagement will begin soon, per the announcement, with groundbreaking anticipated in early 2028 and completion at the end of 2030.
—Zachary Phillips
Seattle Aquarium wins ASCE award
The American Society of Civil Engineers has awarded the Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion as the winner of its 2026 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Gold Award at the OPAL Gala in Reston, Virginia, according to an Oct. 15 announcement.
Magnusson Klemencic Associates served as project manager for construction of the pavilion, which improved accessibility between Pike Place Market and Puget Sound. The finished product contains over 500,000 gallons of water and includes a 30-foot-wide window designed to withstand a magnitude-9.0 earthquake.
The project is one of 12 honored by ASCE with an OCEA award. The Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle and the Hyperion Advanced Water Purification Facility in Playa Del Rey, California, shared the silver award, while the New York City Central Business District Tolling Program won bronze.
—Zachary Phillips
Accenture builds on construction push, acquires startup
Business consulting firm Accenture has acquired Avicado, a startup that specializes in integrating and implementing project management software such as Autodesk Construction Cloud and Procore, according to a Tuesday announcement.
Avicado will sit in Accenture’s new construction-focused offering, Accenture Construct, which it launched on Sept. 23. The business, which seeks to help builders plan, deliver and optimize large infrastructure and capital projects, will use Avicado to expand its digital and systems consulting capabilities, per the announcement.
In addition to integrations, Avicado offers on-the-ground program delivery services, where specialists serve as owner representatives, supporting site selection and feasibility and managing procurement services.
—Matthew Thibault
Balfour Beatty names new US Buildings executive
Infrastructure giant Balfour Beatty has named Scott Skidelsky as its U.S. president for strategy and growth, according to a Thursday announcement.
Skidelsky, who joined Balfour Beatty in 2012, has led the company’s building segment in the Southeast U.S. since 2017. In his new role, Skidelsky will lead strategic development across the business with a focus on accelerating growth, per the announcement.
Succeeding Skidelsky in his prior role is John Harris, who was also named successor on Thursday as president of the firm’s Southeast buildings segment.
Harris, who has worked for the company for nearly 28 years, will lead the strategic direction and client relationships for the company’s operations across Georgia and Florida, through sectors that include data centers, aviation, education, public facilities and hospitality, per the news release.
—Matthew Thibault
