Dodge Construction Network

Construction Starts pull back 20.5% in November

Alyssa Orender — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:57:30 +0000

A lack of megaprojects normalized activity.

BOSTON, MA — December 22, 2025 — Total construction starts were down 20.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.22 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts fell by 13.4%, residential starts increased 13.3%, and nonbuilding starts dropped 43.7% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through November, total construction starts were up 5.1% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up 4.7%, residential starts were down 4.9% and nonbuilding starts were 17.5% higher over the same period. For the 12 months ending November 2025, total construction starts were up 5.7% from the 12 months ending November 2024. Residential starts were down 3.6%, nonresidential starts grew 4.8%, and nonbuilding starts were up 18.0% over the same period.

“A lack of megaproject activity contributed to a weak November for construction starts,” stated Eric Gaus, Chief Economist at Dodge Construction Network. “There were only 2 structures over a billion dollars. Looking through the noise of the last two months, the trajectory of the last half of 2025 has been much better than the first half.”

Residential

Residential building starts rose by 13.3% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $368 billion. Single family starts increased 3.1%, while multifamily starts jumped 35.6%. On a year-to-date basis through November, residential starts are down 4.9% – with single family starts down 12.8% and multifamily starts up 12.4%.

For the 12 months ending November 2025, total residential starts fell 3.6%. Single family starts fell 11.2% compared to the 12 months ending November 2024, and multifamily starts increased 12.4% over the same period.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in November were the $391 million Residential Mixed Use, in Seattle, WA, the $228 million Marine Drive Apartments/Parking – Phase 1 in Buffalo, NY and the $224 million Namdar Mixed-Use Residential-Swimming Pool-Parking Phase 2 in Miami, FL.

Nonresidential

Nonresidential building starts decreased 13.4% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $485 billion. Commercial starts were down 25.8%, alongside declines in offices and data centers (-40.5% m/m) and hotels (-33.2% m/m). Meanwhile, parking garages (30.5% m/m), retail stores (8.3% m/m) and warehouses (6.4% m/m) posted growth between October and November. Institutional starts improved 11.4%, driven by gains in public (+78.8% m/m) and education buildings (+32.1% m/m) – but offset by declines in amusement (-51.1.8% m/m) and dormitories (-45.9% m/m). Manufacturing activity remains volatile, falling 50.7% in November. On a year-to-date basis through November, nonresidential starts are up 4.7% compared to the first eleven months of 2024. Commercial and industrial starts are up 11.6% and institutional starts are down 2.0% over the same period.

For the 12 months ending November 2025, total nonresidential starts were up 4.8% compared to the 12 months ending November 2024. Commercial starts were up 19.9%, institutional starts declined 1.5%, and manufacturing starts were down 13.7% over the same period.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in November were the $1.8 LAX Terminal 5 Renovation & Reconstruction in Los Angeles, CA., the $800 million Amazon – Southern Site – Data Center in Olive Township, IN, and the $797 million New UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Campus in Oakland, CA.

Nonbuilding

Nonbuilding construction starts declined 43.7% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $362 billion. Miscellaneous nonbuilding (-70.4% m/m) drove the declines, along with utilities (-61.4 m/m) and Highway and bridges (-4.9%). Environmental public works starts rose by 6.8% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through November, nonbuilding starts were up 17.5%, alongside gains in miscellaneous nonbuilding (+42.6% m/m), utilities (+49.5%), highways and bridges (+1.7%) while environmental public works declined 1.4%.

For the 12 months ending November 2025, total nonbuilding starts were up 18.0%. Environmental public works improved by 2.0% compared to the 12 months ending November 2024. Highway and bridge starts were up 2.1%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 40.6% and utility/gas starts increased 47.8% over the same period.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in November included the $1.7 billion Entergy Meta Substations – 500kv Line (Sarepta to Mt Olive) in Rayville, LA the $922 million Easley Renewable Energy Solar Array 400MW/650MW BESS in Dester Center, CA and the $900 million The New Castle Bluff Energy Center Natural Gas Power Plant in St Louis, MO.

Regionally, total construction starts in November rose in the Northeast (+17.9%), and the West (+3.7% m/m). Starts declined in the South Central (-49.2% m/m), Midwest (-7.7% m/m), and the South Atlantic (-8.4% m/m) between October and November.

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Dodge Momentum Index Decreases 1% in November

Alyssa Orender — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:06:25 +0000

Nonresidential Planning Pipeline Continues to Settle

BOSTON, MA – December 5, 2025 — The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, decreased 1.1% in November to 276.8 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised October reading of 280.0. Over the month, commercial planning ticked down 0.1% and institutional planning declined by 3.4%. Year-to-date, the DMI is up 36% from the average reading over the same period in 2024.

“The influx of high-value data center work, compounded by inflationary cost pressures, continues to support elevated DMI levels,” stated Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “Overall, nonresidential construction is expected to strengthen in 2027, led primarily by data center and healthcare projects. Other nonresidential sectors are more likely to face softer demand and heightened macroeconomic risks.”

On the commercial side, activity slowed down for warehouses and hotels, while planning momentum was sustained for data centers, traditional office buildings and retail stores. On the institutional side, education, healthcare, public and recreational planning saw weaker momentum, after strong activity in recent months. Planning for religious buildings, however, continued to accelerate. Year-over-year, the DMI was up 50% when compared to November 2024. The commercial segment was up 57% (+36% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up 37% over the same period.

A total of 28 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout November. The largest commercial project included the $406 million Novva Mesa Data Center (Phase 2, 204MW) in Mesa, Arizona, the $317 million Compass Data Center (Buildings 4 & 5) in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and the Medina Technology Data Center Park in Medina, Texas. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $425 million Novi School Renovations in Novi, Michigan, the $250 million James City County Government Complex relocation in Williamsburg, Virginia and the $180 million Police and Fire Administration Headquarters in Mountain View, California.

The DMI is a monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year to 18 months.

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Construction Starts Surge 21.1% in October

Alyssa Orender — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:01:07 +0000

Megaproject activity continues to dominate month-over-month growth

BOSTON, MA — November 21, 2025 — Total construction starts were up 21.1% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.53 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts rose by 17.9%, residential starts declined 15.4%, and nonbuilding starts expanded 59.4% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through October, total construction starts were up 5.9% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up 5.6%, residential starts were down 5.1% and nonbuilding starts were 19.8% higher over the same period. For the 12 months ending October 2025, total construction starts were up 8.1% from the 12 months ending October 2024. Residential starts were down 3.1%, nonresidential starts increased 7.5%, and nonbuilding starts were up 22.9% over the same period.

“Growth in construction starts continued to be propped up by high-value megaproject activity last month,” stated Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “Specifically, ten projects valued at $1 billion and over broke ground, largely within data center, manufacturing and LNG construction. Outside of these high-tech buildings, however, growth appears more moderate. In square footage terms, for example, nonresidential and residential starts declined by 4.3% over the month and are down 5.4% year-to-date through October.”

Nonbuilding

Nonbuilding construction starts grew 59.4% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $645 billion. Utilities (+384.5% m/m) drove the surge, along with environmental public works (+18.6% m/m) and miscellaneous nonbuilding (+10.1% m/m). Highway and bridge starts declined by 23.7% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through October, nonbuilding starts were up 19.8%, alongside gains in miscellaneous nonbuilding (+54.0% m/m), utilities (+47.8%), highways and bridges (+4.1%) and environmental public works (+0.6%).

For the 12 months ending October 2025, total nonbuilding starts were up 22.9%. Environmental public works improved by 11.3% compared to the 12 months ending October 2024. Highway and bridge starts were up 5.6%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 52.6% and utility/gas starts increased 48.0% over the same period.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in October included the $15.1 billion Calcasieu Pass LNG Export Terminal and Pipeline in Cameron, Louisiana, the $9 billion Rio Grande LNG Facility (Phase 2, Trains 4 & 5) in Brownsville, Texas and the $5.9 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel Improvement in Maryland.

Nonresidential

Nonresidential building starts increased 17.9% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $561 billion. Commercial starts were up 19.5%, alongside growth in offices and data centers (+45.5% m/m) and retail stores (+15.1% m/m). Meanwhile, hotels (-19.3% m/m), warehouses (-1.7% m/m) and parking garages (-46.1% m/m) faced declines between September and October. Institutional starts improved 3.7%, driven by gains in other institutional categories (+49.5% m/m) – and offset by declines in education buildings (-20.8% m/m) and healthcare facilities (-2.7% m/m). Manufacturing activity remains volatile, surging 107.2% in October. On a year-to-date basis through October, nonresidential starts are up 5.6% compared to the first ten months of 2024. Commercial and industrial starts are up 13.6% and institutional starts are down 2.2% over the same period.

For the 12 months ending October 2025, total nonresidential starts were up 7.5% compared to the 12 months ending October 2024. Commercial starts were up 26.9%, institutional starts improved 0.2%, and manufacturing starts were down 16.3% over the same period.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in October were the $7.5 billion Meta Hyperion Data Center in Richland, Louisiana, the $1.9 billion expansion to the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, and the $1.7 billion Eli Lilly & Co. Manufacturing Facility in Lebanon, Indiana.

Residential

Residential building starts declined by 15.4% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $323 billion. Single-family starts increased 2.2%, while multifamily starts fell back a pronounced 38.5%. On a year-to-date basis through October, residential starts are down 5.1% – with single family starts down 12.3% and multifamily starts up 10.6%.

For the 12 months ending October 2025, total residential starts fell 3.1%. Single-family starts fell 9.4% compared to the 12 months ending October 2024, and multifamily starts increased 10.3% over the same period.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in October were the $214 million Andare Residences in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the $165 million 6 East 43rd Street Office-to-Residential Conversion in New York, NY and the $132 million Jefferson Bonnie Brae Apartments in Denton, Texas.

Regionally, total construction starts in October rose in the South Central (+84.9% m/m), Midwest (+18.8% m/m), South Atlantic (+8.7% m/m) and the West (+1.1% m/m). Starts declined in the Northeast by 40.1% between September and October.

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Dodge Momentum Index Falls Back 7% in October

Alyssa Orender — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:00:37 +0000

Nonresidential Planning Activity Levels Off After Recent Surge

BOSTON, MA – November 7, 2025 — The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, decreased 7.1% in October to 283.3 (2000=100) from the upwardly revised reading of 304.8. Over the month, commercial planning declined 2.9% and institutional planning slowed by 15.2%. Year-to-date, the DMI is up 35% from the average reading over the same period in 2024.

“After several months of record-breaking levels, planning momentum slowed in October,” stated Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “Activity remains solid across the board, especially for data centers and hospitals. However, recent growth should not solely be attributed to gains in real activity. Anticipated increases in labor and material costs are also driving up project expenses and are inflating the overall trend in the DMI. In the coming months, Dodge anticipates activity to continue to decelerate on average, especially as macroeconomic risks continue to mount.”

On the commercial side, activity slowed down for warehouses and hotels, while planning momentum was sustained for data centers, traditional office buildings and retail stores. On the institutional side, education and healthcare planning have slowed down, after strong activity in recent months. Meanwhile, recreational and public planning continued to grow. Year-over-year, the DMI was up 52% when compared to October 2024. The commercial segment was up 54% (+43% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up 49% over the same period.

A total of 45 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout October. The largest commercial project included Buildings 1,2, and 3 on the Amazon Data Center Campus in Hamlet, North Carolina – each valued at $500 million dollars. The $500 million CyrusOne Data Center in Talkington Township, Illinois and the $500 million Hut 8 Corp. Data Center in Batavia, Illinois also topped the list. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $400 million Scripps Memorial La Jolla Medical Tower III in San Diego, California, the $260 million SW Life Science Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the $198 million Mission Hospital Expansion in Asheville, North Carolina.

The DMI isa monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by afull year to 18 months.

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New Study: Project Management Software for Construction Owners and Contractors Increases Profitability, Productivity, and Efficiency for High Skill Users

Amy Roepke — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:55:07 +0000

Data Shows 77% of optimized adopters experience increased profit margins and productivity gains for leadership/executive teams

BOSTON, MA – November 4, 2025 – Dodge Construction Network, in partnership with Procore Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: PCOR), the leading global provider of construction management software, today announced the findings of a new study that measures the value of project management software for construction owners and contractors. The Quantifying the Value of Project Management SmartMarket Brief demonstrates that project management software is an essential tool that creates immediate value, and high user skill and expertise unlocks its full potential to increase operational efficiency and bottom-line impact.

“The construction industry is at an inflection point where realizing the full potential of technology requires more than just implementation. The data shows that investing in technology alone isn’t enough; it must be paired with an investment in people,” said Kris Lengieza, VP, Global Technology Evangelist at Procore. “Optimizing adoption transforms a valuable tool into an engine for margin growth and operational excellence.”

“Across every metric we measured, including cost control, schedule performance, and productivity, organizations with advanced project management software skills delivered measurably better outcomes,” said Donna Laquidara-Carr, Director, Industry Research at Dodge. “The takeaway is not only that technology creates value, but that strong digital competency reliably amplifies it.”

The study, which surveyed more than 1,100 owners and contractors, evaluates project management software usage and the quantifiable benefits experienced across four key categories: improved data gathering and analysis, process improvements, better project performance, and increased business benefits. Respondents were categorized across an expertise spectrum, from light users to highly skilled, innovative adopters.

Creating Immediate Benefits for All Adopters

All organizations, even those with lower adoption levels, report immediate, tangible improvements:

The majority of light adopters and users proficient in only basic features at both owner and contractor organizations report immediate improvements in data gathering and data quality, including increased accuracy, more actionable data, and reduced errors from miscommunication or outdated information.
More than 50% also experience improved communication and collaboration, partly due to the ability to share more reliable data.
Over 70% of owners are able to handle more construction volume, while more than half of contractors see improved productivity and operational efficiency.

Driving Greater Benefits Among Higher Skilled Users

The research clearly demonstrates a powerful correlation – having greater project management software skills consistently delivers greater benefits. The extent of these gains is striking.

On average, more than 80% of respondents at the top of the expertise spectrum experience benefits across all four major categories.
In contrast, respondents at the lower end of the expertise spectrum range from 31% to 66% benefit realization, depending on the category.

Improving Bottom-Line Impact

Adopters that are highly skilled not only experience a higher number of benefits but also realize a stronger return on investment.

83% report that overhead costs are reduced by 5% or more.
77% report increased profit margins, with a median increase of 4 points.
77% see productivity gains for their leadership/executive teams, while 69% see gains for their project management/operations and finance teams.
76% report that project delays are reduced by 5 days or more on average.

Delivering Increased Efficiency and Performance for Owners

The study also reveals enhanced benefits for owners with high expertise, specifically impacting capital efficiency and overall project performance. These owners report major improvements, including:

90% agree the software has enabled their teams to manage more capital projects.
88% believe their projects now meet or exceed quality benchmarks.
83% have experienced improved cash flow.
83% have seen a noticeable reduction in project delays.

Read Quantifying the Value of Project Management SmartMarket Brief to get more detailed information on the results.

About Procore

Procore Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: PCOR) is a leading technology partner for every stage of construction. Built for the industry, Procore’s unified technology platform drives efficiency and mitigates risk through AI & data-driven insights and decision making. Over three million projects have run on Procore across 150+ countries. For more information, visit https://www.procore.com/.

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Construction Starts Improve 3.1% in September

Alyssa Orender — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 19:07:35 +0000

Other nonbuilding and data centers led this month’s growth

BOSTON, MA — October 19, 2025 — Total construction starts were up 3.1% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.26 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts rose by 11.9%, residential starts improved 3.6%, and nonbuilding starts fell 6.2% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through September, total construction starts were up 3.5% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up 5.0%, residential starts were down 4.2% and nonbuilding starts were 10.8% higher over the same period.

For the 12 months ending September 2025, total construction starts were up 6.7% from the 12 months ending September 2024. Residential starts were down 1.4%, nonresidential starts increased 6.8%, and nonbuilding starts were up 16.7% over the same period.

“September construction starts data marks the third month of steady improvements,” stated Eric Gaus, Chief Economist at Dodge Construction Network. “However, a 3% growth rate is just keeping up with inflation, and we need fourth quarter growth of 25% to match annual growth of 2024. Megaprojects continue to provide significant report; just six projects accounted for 12% of the total value in September.”

Nonresidential

Nonresidential building starts increased 11.9% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $478 billion. Commercial starts were up 21.2%, as only retail failed to grow over the month. Most notably, parking and service stations starts rose 30.1% and offices increased 32.6% between August and September. Institutional starts improved 0.9%, where strong activity in education and dorms (+25.8% m/m), other institutional categories (+11.9% m/m) offset a large decline in health care facilities (-47.8% m/m). Manufacturing activity remains volatile, as the sector jumped 45.2% in September, following last month’s 24.4% drop. On a year-to-date basis through September, nonresidential starts are up 5.0% compared to September 2024. Commercial and industrial starts are up 10.9% and institutional starts are down 0.8% over the same period.

For the 12 months ending September 2025, total nonresidential starts were up 6.8% compared to the 12 months ending September 2024. Commercial starts were up 22.5%, institutional starts improved 5.0%, and manufacturing starts were down 23.6% over the same period.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in September were the $2.5 billion Hut 8 Data Center (West Feliciana Parish) in St Francisville, Louisiana, the $1.7 billion NYS Life Sciences Public Health Laboratory in Albany, New York, and the $1.2 billion Llano Data Center Phase 1 in Claude, Texas.

Residential

Residential building starts increased 3.6% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $379 billion. Single family starts increased 1.7%, while multifamily starts expanded 6.4%. On a year-to-date basis through September, residential starts are down 4.2% – with single family starts down 12.1% and multifamily starts up 13.2%.

For the 12 months ending September 2025, total residential starts fell 1.4%. Single family starts fell 7.6% compared to the 12 months ending September 2024, and multifamily starts increased 11.6% over the same period.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in September were the $584 million Harborside 8 Mixed Use Residential – Commercial & Parking in Jersy City, New Jersy, the $575 million 5 Times Square Residential Conversion in New York, New York, and the $480 million Imperial Tower – Mixed Use-Hotel-Pool-Parking in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Regionally, total construction starts in September rose in the Northeast (+36.3% m/m), Midwest (+10.9% m/m), and West (+1.4% m/m) and declined in the South Atlantic (-0.3% m/m), and South Central (-10.6% m/m).

Nonbuilding

Nonbuilding construction starts fell 6.2% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $404 billion. Utilities (-62.5% m/m) was the sole category contracting, while highway and bridges (+7.4% m/m), environmental public works (+6.6% m/m), and miscellaneous nonbuilding (+116.5% m/m) starts offset the decline. On a year-to-date basis through September, nonbuilding starts were up 10.8%, alongside gains in highways and bridges (+7.4%), miscellaneous nonbuilding (+42.1%), and utilities (+12.9%). Conversely, environmental public works starts are down 2.2% year-to-date through September.

For the 12 months ending September 2025, total nonbuilding starts were up 16.7%. Environmental public works improved by 10.8% compared to the 12 months ending September 2024. Highway and bridge starts were up 10.2%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 46.1% and utility/gas starts increased 17.1% over the same period.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in September included the $3.0 billion AirTrain Newark Replacement in Newark, New Jersey, the $2.7 billion Hugh Brinson Pipeline in Midland, Texas and the $1.1 billion Walnut Creek WWTP Renovation and Expansion in Austin, Texas.

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Dodge Momentum Index Increases 3% in September

Alyssa Orender — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:32:15 +0000

Strong September growth signals future moderation ahead.

BOSTON, MA – October 7, 2025 — The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, increased 3.4% in September to 304.6 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised reading of 294.7. Over the month, commercial planning expanded 4.7% while institutional planning ticked up 0.9%. Year-to-date, the DMI is up 33% from the average reading over the same period in 2024.

“Planning momentum remained steadfast for data centers, healthcare, and public buildings throughout September and will correlate to stronger construction spending in early 2027,” stated Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “After a prolonged period of uncertainty, owners and developers are advancing projects into planning, but activity is expected to normalize in future months.”

On the commercial side, activity slowed down for warehouses, traditional office buildings and hotels but gained momentum in data centers and retail stores. Without data centers, commercial planning would have only increased 0.5% this month. On the institutional side, education and recreational planning slowed down, while healthcare and public planning continued to grow. Year-over-year, the DMI was up 60% when compared to September 2024. The commercial segment was up 53% (+44% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up 75% over the same period.

A total of 58 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout September. The largest commercial projects included the $440 million CyrusOne Data Center Campus in Yorkville, Illinois, the $384 million Meta Data Center (Phase 2) in Montgomery, Alabama, and the $300 million Gemini Data Center (500 MW) in Brandon, South Dakota. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $246 million Philip Anthony Senior High School (No. 2) in Princeton, Texas, the $227 million HCA Medical City Healthcare Hospital in Prosper, Texas, and the $158 million East Stamford Elementary School and Middle School in Stamford, Connecticut.

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Construction Starts Improve 2% in August

Alyssa Orender — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:56:49 +0000

Nonbuilding and multifamily activity led this month’s growth

BOSTON, MA — September 19, 2025 — Total construction starts were up 1.7% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.23 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts declined by 5.4%, residential starts improved 2.4%, and nonbuilding starts grew 9.3% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through August, total construction starts were up 1.9% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up 3.4%, residential starts were down 5.0% and nonbuilding starts were 8.1% higher over the same period.

For the 12 months ending August 2025, total construction starts were up 4.7% from the 12 months ending August 2024. Residential starts were down 1.2%, nonresidential starts increased 4.8%, and nonbuilding starts were up 12.1% over the same period.

“Construction activity continues to present a mixed picture,” stated Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “August growth was concentrated in a few key sectors, while single-family and commercial projects experienced broad declines. Large-scale megaprojects continue to support overall activity, but with mounting signs of economic softness, the pace of growth is beginning to moderate.”

Nonbuilding

Nonbuilding construction starts expanded 9.3% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $431 billion. Utilities (+39.7% m/m) supported this month’s growth, while highway and bridge (-5.6% m/m), environmental public works (-2.8% m/m), and miscellaneous nonbuilding (-3.1% m/m) starts fell back. On a year-to-date basis through August, nonbuilding starts were up 8.1%, alongside gains in highways and bridges (+7.8% m/m), miscellaneous nonbuilding (+22.6% m/m), and utilities (+12.6% m/m). Conversely, environmental public works starts are down 3.4% year-to-date through August.

For the 12 months ending August 2025, total nonbuilding starts were up 12.1%. Environmental public works improved by 10.8% compared to the 12 months ending August 2024. Highway and bridge starts were up 11.1%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 30.5% and utility/gas starts increased 5.4% over the same period.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in August included the $5.1 billion Woodside Louisiana LNG Facility (Train #3, Phase 1) in Sulphur, Louisiana, the $2.9 billion Cheniere Corpus Christi LNG Facility (Trains 8 and 9, Stage 3B) in Gregory, Texas and the $1.8 billion Kingston Energy Complex with Battery Storage in Kingston, Tennessee.

Nonresidential

Nonresidential building starts declined 5.4% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $431 billion. Commercial starts were down 12.0%, as all sectors faced month-to-month declines. Most notably, warehouse starts fell back 25.3% and retail stores declined 11.3% between July and August. Institutional starts improved 3.7% driven by stronger activity in education (+0.5% m/m), healthcare (+2.8% m/m) and other institutional categories (+9.9% m/m). Manufacturing activity remains volatile, as the sector dropped 24.4% in August, following last month’s 84.8% drop. On a year-to-date basis through August, nonresidential starts are up 3.4% compared to August 2024. Commercial and industrial starts are up 7.6% and institutional starts are down 0.7% over the same period.

For the 12 months ending August 2025, total nonresidential starts were up 4.8% compared to the 12 months ending August 2024. Commercial starts were up 17.4%, institutional starts improved 6.1%, and manufacturing starts were down 27.4% over the same period.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in August were the $880 million Geisinger Medical Center Tower in Danville, Pennsylvania, the $666 million Fort Meade East Campus Office Building in Fort Meade, Maryland, and the $540 million UM Shore Medical Center in Easton, Maryland.

Residential

Residential building starts increased 2.4% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $364 billion. Single family starts declined 5.4%, while multifamily starts expanded a steady 15.5%. On a year-to-date basis through August, residential starts are down 5.0% – with single family starts down 11.7% and multifamily starts up 9.9%.

For the 12 months ending August 2025, total residential starts fell 1.2%. Single family starts fell 5.9% compared to the 12 months ending August 2024, and multifamily starts increased 8.6% over the same period.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in August were the $619 million Kuilei Place Mixed-Use Residential Tower in Honolulu, Hawaii, the $413 million 120 Brickell Residences in Miami, Florida and the $383 million Coles Street Mixed-Use Development in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Regionally, total construction starts in August rose only in the South Central (+53% m/m) and declined in the Northeast (-25% m/m), Midwest (-10% m/m), South Atlantic (-2% m/m) and West (-12% m/m).

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Dodge Momentum Index Grows 8% in August

Alyssa Orender — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:22:52 +0000

Elevated activity pushes index to new peak

BOSTON, MA – September 8, 2025 — The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, increased 7.5% in August to 301.4 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised July reading of 279.9. Over the month, commercial planning expanded 8.7% while institutional planning grew 5.4%. Year-to-date, the DMI is up 30% from the average reading over the same period in 2024.

“The DMI continues to point to stronger construction activity in late 2026 or early 2027 within specific sectors,” stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “Because this Index uses a three-month moving average, last month’s strong activity sustained this month’s positive gains despite a pullback in the raw, unadjusted data. Following months of uncertainty caused by tariff concerns, owners and developers have started progressing with projects while accepting higher costs. Given the persistent economic and fiscal uncertainty, volatility in planning activity will remain high.”

On the commercial side, all sectors sustained momentum over the month – notably led by strength in data centers, warehouses and hotels. Parking garages & service stations also experienced steady gains. On the institutional side, education and healthcare planning decelerated from last month’s growth but remained positive. A slew of detention facility and court building projects also drove lofty gains in the public building sector throughout August. In August, the DMI was up 51% when compared to year-ago levels. The commercial segment was up 38% from August 2024 and the institutional segment was up 84% over the same period. If all data center projects between 2023 and 2025 are excluded, commercial planning would still be up 38% from year-ago levels driven by an uptick in warehouse and automotive planning.

A total of 51 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout August. The largest commercial projects included the $500 million Big Sky Data Center Campus and Battery Storage (500 MW) in Billings, Montana, the $360 million Prologis Concorde data center in Sterling, Virginia and the $347 million Johnston County Government Complex in Smithfield, North Carolina. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $490 million Weld County Judicial Center in Greeley, Colorado, the $375 million dormitory within the Medical Education Training Complex in San Antonio, Texas and the $360 million renovation to the Framingham Correctional Institution in Framingham, Massachusetts.

The post Dodge Momentum Index Grows 8% in August appeared first on Dodge Construction Network.

Construction Starts Pull back 10% in July

Alyssa Orender — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:12:13 +0000

Nonresidential starts tumble over the month

BOSTON, MA — August 22, 2025 — Total construction starts were down 10.2% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.19 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts declined by 30.1%, residential starts fell 3.1%, and nonbuilding starts grew 20.4% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through July, total construction starts were up 1.6% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up 4.3%, residential starts were down 4.4% and nonbuilding starts were 5.3% higher over the same period.

For the 12 months ending July 2025, total construction starts were up 4.1% from the 12 months ending July 2024. Residential starts were down 0.7%, nonresidential starts were up 4.6%, and nonbuilding starts improved 9.3% over the same period.

“Construction starts reversed course in July, offsetting the strong gains made in June,” stated Eric Gaus, Chief Economist at Dodge Construction Network. “The latest data reinforced trends we have been watching since the beginning of the year: single family building and manufacturing are struggling, but data centers continue to boom.”

Nonbuilding

Nonbuilding construction starts improved 20.4% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $395 billion. Utilities (127.2% m/m) and miscellaneous nonbuilding (50.0%) supported gains, while highway and bridge starts (-2.5% m/m), and environmental public works (-17.7% m/m) starts fell back. On a year-to-date basis through July, nonbuilding starts were up 5.3%, alongside gains in highways and bridges (+8.4%) and miscellaneous nonbuilding (+18.8%). Conversely, utilities are down 1.0% year-to-date, and environmental public works are down 0.5% over the same period.

For the 12 months ending July 2025, total nonbuilding starts were up 9.3%. Environmental public works improved by 15.3% compared to the 12 months ending July 2024. Highway and bridge starts were up 9.9%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 29.6% and utility/gas starts were down 7.7% over the same period.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in July were the $3.0 billion Empire Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project, in New York, the $1.8 billion A’s Ballpark in Las Vegas, Nevada and the $1.6 billion Boardman to Hemingway Power Transmission Line in Boardman, Oregon.

Nonresidential

Nonresidential building starts crashed 30.1% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $443 billion. Commercial starts were down 8.5%, due to normalizing office starts (-33.1% m/m) which equaled the 2024 average in levels. Institutional starts fell 4.6% as education construction reversed June’s gains (-13.3% m/m), other institutional categories (-5.0% m/m) pulled back, and healthcare rebounded (+13.5% m/m). The manufacturing rollercoaster plunged 84.7% over the month, following an unusually robust June. On a year-to-date basis through July, nonresidential starts are up 4.3% compared to July 2024. Commercial and industrial starts are up 5.5% and institutional starts are up 3.0% over the same period.

For the 12 months ending July 2025, total nonresidential starts were up 4.6 compared to the 12 months ending July 2024. Commercial starts were up 12.0%, institutional starts improved 10.1%, and manufacturing starts were down 27.8% over the same period.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in July were the $855 million UU West Valley Eccles Health Campus in West Valley City, Utah, the $650 million Mercy Hospital Campus in Wentzville, Missouri, and the $550 million Meta Data Center Campus in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Residential

Residential building starts declined 3.1% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $356 billion. Single family starts increased by 1.2%, while multifamily starts fell 9.5%. On a year-to-date basis through July, residential starts are down 4.4% – with single family starts down 10.1% and multifamily starts up 8.3%.

For the 12 months ending July 2025, total residential starts fell 0.7%. Single family starts fell 3.8% compared to the 12 months ending July 2024, and multifamily starts increased 5.5% over the same period.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in July were the $552 million Rangel Houses Comprehensive Repair/Renovation in New York, New York and the $365 million 20 Long Slip Apartment Tower-Pool in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Regionally, total construction starts in July rose in the Northeast, but declined in the Midwest, West, South Central and South Atlantic.

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