Construction Dive’s Friday Punch List is a series dedicated to sharing the top building headlines that contractors may have missed during the week.
This week in construction news, a major and embattled project took a big step forward.
The $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project in New Jersey held a ceremony on Monday to mark the beginning of the boring work. They were also headlines a Fluor-JCG JV that won a $15 billion LNG contract in British Columbia and $677 million Texas highway project that came to an end.
But these were not the only developments in the world of construction this week. Read on for other news executives should know.
Genentech, Skanska break ground on $750 million Oregon project
San Francisco-based biotech company Genentech on Monday began a $750 million expansion from its manufacturing campus in Hillsboro, Oregon, according to a press release.
A member of pharmaceutical company Roche Group, Genentech plans to begin commercial operations at the new facility in 2031. The 211,000-square-foot addition will double the size of the existing site, according to the statement.
Once operational, the expanded facility will increase the capacity of advanced drug delivery devices and strengthen the company’s manufacturing capabilities in the United States. The project is part of Genentech and Roche’s investment drive in U.S. manufacturing, including other milestones in Holly Springs, North Carolina, and Boston.
Skanska is the general contractor for the project, according to Genentech.
—Sebastian Obando
Nvidia selects Jacobs for data center digital twin
Jacobs will deploy its digital twin of the data center at scale Nvidia research and development facility in the US, according to a Wednesday press release.
Nvidia used Jacobs under a three-year software-as-a-service agreement to improve operational planning and facility performance. The digital twin platform helps operators simulate scenarios, giving them greater visibility into infrastructure management, Amer Battikhi, executive vice president of Jacobs, said in the statement.
According to Jacobs, the digital twin solution supports dynamic power load balancing, energy forecasting, liquid coolant leak detection, predictive maintenance and operator training.
—Sebastian Obando
Turner offers $29 million substance abuse center
Turner Construction and community partners marked the ribbon cutting $29 million residential and substance use treatment services center in National City, Calif., according to a Tuesday press release.
The facility houses 73 residential treatment beds and 16 recuperative care beds to integrate while integrating substance use treatment and recuperative care services under one roof, according to the release. San Diego-based Platt/Whitelaw Architects partnered on the project.
The project transformed a previously vacant county building with improved mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in addition to modernized kitchen, laundry, bedroom and office areas, according to san diego county update. The center uses fully electric systems.
According to Turner’s statement, the SURTS center is expected to serve approximately 500 people annually through residential treatment and another 167 people through recuperative care.
—Joe Bousquin
CMAA elects new CEO
The Construction Management Association of America has a new leader.
CMAA, which creates educational materials and programming for construction professionals leading major capital projects, has it chose Kevin Watkins as its next president and CEOaccording to a Wednesday announcement. Watkins’ appointment will be effective Nov. 16.
According to the announcement, Watkins joins CMAA from the American Institute of Architects, where he currently serves as chief operating officer. At AIA, he has helped the association achieve record membership growth.
As part of his responsibilities, Watkins will lead CMAA’s work to complete and implement its new strategic plan, strengthen chapters, expand recognition of its credentials, and advocate for CMAA at the government and industry levels.
— Matthew Thibault
Black & White Engineering expands into the US
Black & White Engineering, a British engineering company with locations worldwide, has opened two US offices in Tampa, Florida and Arlington, Virginia. according to a statement on Monday.
The move coincides with its push to grow its operations in the United States, according to the announcement. The company aims to grow its North American team to approximately 200 people by 2029, and also plans to open another office in Texas. It will hire workers in disciplines that include technical, electrical, mechanical, BIM and project and design management roles.
In particular, Black & White highlighted its Virginia office as a strong location for the business, which is located near the heart of one of the strongest data center development markets in the US.
“For 19 years, we’ve built our reputation, technical capability and culture in some of the world’s most important markets,” said Mick Cairns, the company’s president and CEO, in the announcement. “North America is the final piece of the puzzle.”
— Matthew Thibault
Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that Skanska is the general contractor for Genentech’s $750 million expansion in Hillsboro, Oregon.
