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] AI-driven demand will trigger a new cycle of DRAM fabrication investment exceeding $100 billion. Tech Insider
• [New] Modular construction involves prefabricating building components off-site for faster, more efficient on-site assembly and is expected to see significant growth in 2026. ABC Central Texas
• [New] In 2026, the construction industry is projected to experience cautious, uneven, and low single-digit growth, driven by AI-powered data center expansion, manufacturing, and public infrastructure projects. ABC Central Texas
• [New] The construction industry in Argentina is expected to expand by 5.5% in real terms in 2026, supported by an increase in building permits issued, coupled with investments in the transport infrastructure projects. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Maine's vote could mark the first-ever statewide moratorium on data center construction in the US. Business Insider
• [New] Data center construction spending is experiencing an unprecedented infrastructure investment supercycle, driven primarily by the need to support high-density AI workloads, with global capacity projected to nearly double by 2030. ABC Central Texas
• [New] The New York City Housing and Preservation Development Department requires Enterprise Green Communities or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification for all new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects that it finances. ESG Dive
• [New] China, along with Russia, plans to complete construction of a lunar base by 2035. International Action Center - Founded in 1992 by Ramsey
• [New] The West Seattle light rail extension could begin construction soon, even as officials work to close a multibillion-dollar funding gap. FOX One
• [New] Kairos Power has received an NRC construction license for its Hermes fluoride salt-cooled demonstration reactor and has a signed power purchase agreement with Google for up to 500 MWe of capacity across multiple sites targeting 2030-2035. Blackburne Energy Analysis Substack
• [New] TerraPower's Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor, backed by Bill Gates and supported by a DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program award, has a construction permit application filed for an Idaho site with a 2030 commercial target. Blackburne Energy Analysis Substack
• [New] California's ambitious energy and environmental policies, including eliminating economywide carbon emissions by 2045, will require substantial infrastructure investment to electrify buildings and transportation. Morningstar, Inc.
• [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

Last updated: 22 April 2026