Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] The bottleneck in data center construction, which supply chain issues and U.S. manufacturing capability are exacerbating, is anticipated to worsen as dependence on foreign imports grows. Yahoo Tech
• [New] The Amur-Yakutsk Mainline (which, after the construction of the Lena bridge, operates year-round and reaches Yakutsk) could be extended to Magadan. Russia in Global Affairs
• [New] The construction of new infrastructure east of the Urals will open up new prospects for many Russians, including veterans of the Ukraine war. Russia in Global Affairs
• [New] By late 2026, construction will be complete on a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art space called the Public Science Common. Meetings Today
• [New] Maine has introduced a bill banning the construction of facilities consuming 20 MW or more of power until 2027, while some states, including New Orleans, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, have already implemented temporary bans. Plpnetworks
• [New] In 2028, the Chinese government plans to send equipment to investigate construction of a lunar base, including an enclosed ecosystem to rest on the moon's surface. / China The Guardian
• [New] The UK government has announced a £380m (US$482.6m) grant for Agratas to support construction of one of Europe's largest gigafactories, at a site in Somerset that will produce battery cells for anchor customer JLR. Automotive World
• [New] While a typical data center can consume as much electricity as 100,000 households, the largest next-generation campuses currently under construction will demand 20 times that amount. Brookings
• [New] The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 1.2 million annual openings in construction, extraction, installation, and repair occupations through 2034. / USA MajorMatch
• [New] With the European Union working to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, efforts to reduce the construction industry's major carbon impact are advancing with projects bringing technological innovations to scale. Engineering News Record
• [New] Cement and concrete are vital to the built environment, from housing and commercial buildings to data centers and transportation networks, and global demand for cement is expected to increase to 6.2 billion tons by 2050. Center for Green Market Activation
• [New] In the second quarter of 2026, Museum of Glass will begin construction on the first capital renovation project in its history. Museum of Glass
• [New] Dubai has approved the construction of its first integrated resort casino, expected to generate $1 billion annually by 2030. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Colorado-based Lunar Outpost is building vehicles it says could support the construction and operation of a permanent lunar base. The Christian Science Monitor
• [New] CRE investors who position in markets targeted for government-funded AI infrastructure buildouts, such as the data center corridors already emerging in Northern Virginia, Phoenix, and Central Ohio, could benefit from both direct construction activity and the multiplier effects of public investment. The AI Consulting Network
• [New] Construction remains the highest-risk sector for insolvency in Australia. Blaze Business & Legal
• [New] China Mobile will join hands with global industry partners to accelerate the construction of global communication networks, computing networks, and intelligent networks. WebWire
• [New] Every £1 billion spent on construction generates approximately 250,000 to 350,000 tonnes of CO2e, before accounting for debris clearance and supply-chain disruption. Climate Home News
• [New] Artemis II is meant to be the first in a years-long series of crewed deep-space missions that, if successful, will realize the construction of a multibillion-dollar moon base at the lunar south pole sometime in the 2030s. Scientific American
• [New] Small modular nuclear reactors are frequently discussed, but none is likely to be operating at commercial scale before 2030, and conventional nuclear plants face long regulatory and construction timelines. European Council on Foreign Relations
• [New] ScottishPower has secured £600 million for a subsea interconnector that will transfer Scotland's renewable wind energy to English demand centers by 2034, reinforcing a resilient grid crucial for green construction and eco-friendly construction projects. Whole Life Carbon

Last updated: 15 April 2026