“Our team is committed to delivering a high-quality facility that will support Georgia’s growing energy needs for decades to come.”
— John Jennings, president of ICT and senior vice president of Kiewit
Oglethorpe Power has selected Kiewit subsidiary The Industrial Co. as the EPC contractor for a new 1.4 GW combined cycle natural gas power plant in Monroe County, Ga., to meet growing electricity demand among the cooperative’s 38 members.
The project, referred to by Oglethorpe Power as the Monroe County Combined Cycle Facility and by industry sources as the Smarr Combined Cycle Plant, will be built on cooperatively owned property near Forsyth, adjacent to an existing gas unit. Oglethorpe Power says the site was chosen for its existing transmission access, water resources and available acreage. Total capital investment is estimated at $2 billion to $3 billion. The value of Industrial Co’s contract was not disclosed.
“Oglethorpe Power is committed to providing reliable and affordable energy to the communities we serve, and this project is a critical part of fulfilling that mission,” the cooperative said in announcing the EPC award.
The plant will use advanced-class GE Vernova 7HA.03 gas turbines, which Oglethorpe Power says will be able to run on a blended hydrogen and natural gas fuel as the technology matures. The facility will also use air-cooled condensers instead of traditional cooling towers, an option the co-op says will significantly reduce water use at the site.
Under the EPC contract, the contractor will lead engineering, procurement and construction. Groundbreaking is expected to begin in the spring, with commercial operation expected in 2029. Oglethorpe Power has filed the required environmental applications, including air quality permits, and says the project will meet all state and federal regulatory requirements.
“We are proud to partner with Oglethorpe Power on this important project,” said John Jennings, president of IT and senior vice president of Kiewit. “Our team is committed to delivering a high-quality facility that will support Georgia’s growing energy needs for decades to come.”
The project also includes a 7.8-mile, 500-kV transmission line connecting the plant to the regional grid. Construction of the line is expected to begin in late 2027 and will likely require easements to adjacent properties, according to preliminary planning documents.
Local authorities have expressed their support for the investment. Monroe County Commissioner Eddie Rowland said the project “will bring good jobs and long-term economic value to Monroe County while strengthening the energy resources that serve our communities.”
Landmark breaks ground on 825-bed student housing project in Columbia, SC
Landmark Properties has acquired a 22.35-acre site at 1401 Shop Road in Columbia, SC, and has begun construction on The Walk on Shop Road, an 825-bed, 196-unit townhouse-style student housing project serving the University of South Carolina. The development is the first under the company’s new brand line, The Walk.
Silverpeak Real Estate Partners is a partner in the project. Landmark Construction is the general contractor and Niles Bolton Associates is the architect. Completion is expected before the 2027-28 school year.
Procore aims to complete the integration of the Datagrid acquisition by 2026
Procore Technologies is integrating Datagrid into its platform following its January 2026 acquisition of the AI data connectivity company, a move aimed at strengthening Procore’s AI strategy by unifying third-party data and enhancing the reasoning capabilities of its construction tools.
Thiago da Costa, CEO of Datagrid, will join Procore to lead the AI and data strategy as the company moves forward with its integration efforts throughout the year.
Wake Tech Fire and Rescue Center is on track for completion later this year
Samet Corp. is making progress on Wake Technical Community College’s new Fire and Rescue Training Center, an approximately $16 million project that is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The project team includes HH Architecture; NV5 for construction and civil design; Surface 678 for landscape architecture; Lynch Mykins for structural engineering; and Salas O’Brien for PME and fire protection engineering. Elliot, Leboeuf & McElwain is leading the design of the fire training facility. James Skinner is the owner’s project manager.
Catamount releases ArchType for BTR projects
Catamount Constructors has introduced ArchType, a customizable, pre-priced blueprint kit developed with Dwell Design Studio to accelerate the delivery of build-to-rent communities. The contractor says the ready-to-build package consolidates design and construction planning, using field-proven designs to help control costs and shorten schedules. Catamount leaders note that the system aims to address rising costs and compressed timelines in the BTR market.
Southwest Power Pool plans $150 million expansion in Little Rock
Southwest Power Pool is moving forward with a $150 million expansion to support corporate growth and expand its services to the energy market. The Little Rock-based regional broadcast organization expects to add about 190 engineering, IT, market administration and support jobs by the end of 2027, including approximately 165 jobs in its home city. The project is backed by secured financing and will support the development and operation of Markets+, SPP’s planned energy market serving the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West and Desert Southwest.
Hasen will begin adaptive reuse of the former Oncor building in Fort Worth
Hasen is preparing to begin construction on the adaptive reuse of the former Oncor building in downtown Fort Worth, converting the 16-story, 300,000-square-foot tower into approximately 330 multifamily units as part of the redevelopment of 115 West 7th Street. The project will include studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with new atriums, a fitness center and a business center.
The building’s mid-century facade will be preserved due to its 2024 Historic and Cultural Landmark designation. Originally built in 1952 as the headquarters of the Fort Worth National Bank, the tower was designed by Preston M. Geren & Associates in the International Style. Developer 3L Real Estate acquired the property in 2023 and has partnered with Hasen. Bennett Partners is leading the architecture and design for the redevelopment.
Bozzuto Construction enters Texas with senior living project in Dallas
Bozzuto Construction is expanding into Texas as it begins work on The Marianne, a 162-unit senior living community in Dallas. The 294,000 square meter project, developed by Herbert South Bay and designed by Arcadis, will include independent living, assisted living and memory care residences. The company has established a construction team based in Dallas-Fort Worth to support its entry into the region and strengthen its national footprint.
The Memphis Art Museum is preparing to open a new campus in December
The Memphis Art Museum, which will open its new downtown campus in December 2026, is preparing a curatorial program for its Herzog & de Meuron-designed facility that reflects the city’s history, culture and community.
The museum, founded in 1916, will organize its new building into 18 exhibitions.
