A wave of large-scale development is transforming the U.S. construction sector as nine new megaprojects officially launched construction in October, according to newly released Dodge Construction Network (DCN) data. These billion-dollar-plus ventures are not only reshaping regional economies but also propping up national growth at a time when many traditional development categories remain sluggish.
Industry researchers noted that the combined value of these nine megaprojects helped push U.S. construction starts up 21.1 percent in October, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.53 trillion. The momentum is especially powerful in nonresidential sectors—most notably data centers, manufacturing plants, and large-scale energy infrastructure.
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The nine biggest projects that began construction last month span major industries and geographies:
These projects reflect a national shift toward advanced manufacturing, clean energy exports, and data infrastructure—sectors that continue to absorb massive capital investments even as office, multifamily, and some retail categories soften.
The October boom underscores how megaprojects continue to act as a stabilizing force for the construction industry. While institutional starts (like schools and hospitals) dipped 2.2 percent year-to-date, and multifamily housing fell sharply by 38.5 percent, the surge in data centers and manufacturing helped lift total nonresidential starts by 17.9 percent during the month.
Office and data center groundbreakings alone jumped 45.5 percent, while manufacturing starts soared 107.2 percent—a reflection of ongoing federal incentives, private-sector reshoring, and the growing demand for digital infrastructure.
DCN’s associate director of forecasting, Sarah Martin, offered a measured assessment of the trend.
She noted: "Much of the momentum we’re seeing is still concentrated in big-ticket, high-tech projects. Outside those categories, the pace of expansion is noticeably steadier and more restrained."
Martin added: "Growth in construction starts continued to be propped up by high-value megaproject activity last month. Outside of these high-tech buildings, however, growth appears more moderate. In square footage terms, for example, nonresidential and residential starts declined by 4.3 percent over the month and are down 5.4 percent year-to-date through October."
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Infrastructure, utilities, and transportation projects also made major gains:
Meanwhile, residential construction showed continued softness, dropping 15.4 percent in October and 3.1 percent over the past year. Single-family starts crept up 2.2 percent, but that wasn’t enough to offset the collapse in multifamily activity.
DCN analysts warn that although high-tech megaprojects are driving national totals higher, they represent a narrower portion of the market. Broader commercial construction—including small and mid-size projects—remains more constrained. Still, the outlook for energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing remains strong heading into 2026.
Data centers and LNG terminals are expected to continue leading capital investment, particularly in the South and Midwest. But the long-term trajectory of institutional and residential sectors will depend on interest rates, labor supply, and public funding availability.
Originally reported by Sam Stevenson, Associate News Editor in News Week.
