Midwest contractors continued to prosper in 2024 despite facing the ongoing challenges of high interest rates, inflation, labor shortages and elections that confirmed a change of guard at the White House and Congress in 2025.
The projects that were located to the top of the Midwest Enr List of 2024: data centers, battery parks and winds and outstanding solar farms, indicate the market areas that bloom and show where many contractors dedicate their energy and resources.
Clayco launches Clayco Compute, a new business unit focused on technological work as advanced as the Campus Quantum project in the old USX place in the south side of Chicago. An important milestone is marked at the establishment of the city as a global quantum computer center.
Clayco of courtesy of courtesy
The needs of the evolving client
The ranking, which details the most valuable projects to break the field of the last year, shows projects and sectors of the industry that define the Midwest market. The data comes from the Dodge Construction Network.
“In 2024 it was a reference year for Clayco, based on Chicago, marked by significant growth and success in winning and executing large -scale projects across the country,” says CEO Anthony Johnson. “Our business grew, reflecting our ability to meet the evolution of our customers in dynamic sectors. We achieved main products in critical areas such as data centers, quantum computer science, advanced manufacturing, IA and life sciences. “”
Responding to the growth of advanced technology, Clayco launched Clayco Compute in 2024, a division focused exclusively on the construction of data centers and projects related to “hyperscales”.
The new business unit is intended to take advantage of the increasing demand for advanced projects of the data center and the construction of quantum computing, according to the company, noting that Colliers projects the Market of the Hyper -Escaresca data center to grow from 10% to 20% per annum until 2030. In addition, private investments in the United States in the sector will increase up to 1 trilion of dollars over the next five years, according to the next five years, according to the next five years. Klimczak, a global head of the Investment Firm Blackstone.
Clayco says he has completed or carries out more than $ 12.7 billion in advanced technology projects, with 57 active data center projects throughout the country.
“We have assured important projects in critical areas such as data centers, quantum computer science, advanced billing, IA and life sciences.”
—Anthony Johnson, Ceo, Clayco
Like Clayco, Burns and McDonnell they see data centers as a key growth engine, adding that electrical infrastructure and artificial intelligence are other sectors of the hot market that are expected to grow rapidly.
“Growing demand for power [from data centers and AI] He has created an act of balance of big bets, “says Leslie M. Duke, president and CEO of Burns & McDonnell.” The revolution of artificial intelligence is ready to remodel both data and electricity industries over the next decades. The creation of data centers to feed this advanced technology and supply sufficient power among the biggest challenges. “
The requirements of energy consumption of AI -centered data centers are promoting innovation in energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
“These advances are paving the way for environmentally friendly solutions to various industries,” he says.
Even with such immense opportunities, the challenges are many.
“Each new project, from a AI -centered data center to an EV load center or a semiconductor plant, presents great questions,” says Duke. “Where will the power come from? And how can suppliers determine the improvements of the necessary infrastructure or possible interconnection improvements without risking the obstacles of the construction or sub -style? ”
He states that “the decisions made today must anticipate the energy landscape of tomorrow, taking into account the potential changes of energy consumption patterns and the change of regulatory landscapes and environmental policies, all with tense supply chains, aging network infrastructure and the need for the expansion of low carbon electricity sources.”
“In order to satisfy new capabilities and infrastructure requirements, many obstacles must be deleted,” adds Duke. “At the same time, supply chain restrictions increase costs and delay critical projects, creating bottlenecks that climb between industries. To overcome the existing and planned power challenges will require a diverse energy portfolio to offer reliable power to maintain sustainability goals. “”
Contractors are also facing a new political landscape.
“As at the beginning of any new administration, there are still many unknowns about new regulations, changes in politics and other changes that are applied,” says Duke. “This uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to the already difficult landscape of development and management of energy infrastructure.”
“The decisions made today must foresee the energy landscape of tomorrow.”
—Slie M. Duke, President and CEO, Burns & McDonnell
Duke says diversification is key to successful success. The company designs data centers, protects and cleanses waterways and builds facilities for military aircraft and space vehicles, among many other services.
“It forecasts an influx of gas turbines that go to the market for many years,” he says. “We continue to work with public and cooperative services to carry out engineering and construction of these facilities.”
Other areas where the company hopes that growth will be in the medium and logistical flow industry as the gas demand continues to grow.
“We think we will see more traditional refining projects,” he says.
Looking forward
Johnson says his company has been taking advantage of the growth of data centers and will continue to do so. By 2024, Clayco reported $ 3.6 billion revenue on data center projects, which represents half of the total number of Clayco’s income, and more than doubled its $ 1.5 billion data center by 2023.Clayco Compute is expected to continue this growth by 2025 and is expected to reach more than $ 4.5 billion in revenue for revenue for revenue.
Clayco, like Burns & McDonnell, is excellent by 2025.
“We focus on climbing and strengthening our vertically integrated design and development development capacities, such as design, engineering, hiring, self-reputation and development services,” says Johnson. “We will continue to grow within the key-critical sectors of missions such as advanced manufacturing, data centers, life sciences, e-commerce and food and drinks, while expanding to recent strategic markets.”
