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According to the Dodge Construction Network, a surge in megaproject innovations led to a surge in construction starts in October as 10 projects valued at $1 billion or more broke ground.
Total construction starts rose 21.1% in October at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.53 trillion, according to Dodge. The tip, fed by those billion dollar manufacturing and data center projectsstick innovative growth in August and September.
But uniform strength in all corners of construction remains elusive, said Sarah Martin, Dodge’s associate director of forecasting.
“Growth in construction starts continued to support high value mega project activity last month,” Martin said in the statement. “Outside these high-tech buildings, however, growth appears more moderate.”
Non-residential starts, which include commercial and institutional projects, rose 17.9% in October, led by a 45.5% increase in offices and data centers and a strong 107.2% increase in manufacturing activity. Retail starts also posted a 15.1 percent increase, although hotel and warehouse projects posted declines, the report said.
Overall nonresidential starts rose 5.6% year-to-date through October, according to Dodge. In the first 10 months of the year, commercial innovations grew by 13.6%, although institutional projects, such as education and healthcare, fell by 2.2%.
For the 12 months ending in October 2025, total non-residential starts improved by 7.5%. Commercial and institutional increased by 26.9% and 0.2%, respectively. On the other hand, advances in manufacturing decreased by 16.3% during the same period, according to Dodge.
Here are the largest non-building, non-residential and multi-family projects starting in October, according to Dodge:
- 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 and 5) in Brownsville, Texas.
- The $7.5 billion Meta Hyperion data center in Richland, Louisiana.
- The $5.9 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel upgrade in Maryland.
- The $1.9 billion LA Convention Center expansion in Los Angeles.
- Eli Lilly’s $1.7 billion manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Indiana.
- The $214 million Andare Residences in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- The office at 6 East 43rd St. of $165 million in residential conversion in New York City.
- The $132 million Jefferson Bonnie Brae Apartments in Denton, Texas.
Non-building starts, such as highways, bridges and other infrastructure, rebounded 59.4% in October. This was largely driven by a 384.5% increase in utility construction, as highway and bridge work declined 23.7% during the month.
According to the report, in the last 12 months ending October 2025, total non-building starts increased by 22.9%.
Residential construction decreased by 15.4% in October, led by a 38.5% decline in multifamily starts. Single-family starts, meanwhile, improved by 2.2%, according to the report. During the 12 months ending October 2025, total residential construction fell 3.1%.
