Clay, N.Y. — In a move that signals a major leap forward for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, Micron Technology has selected Gilbane Building Company to lead preconstruction and site preparation for what will become the largest semiconductor fabrication facility ever built in the United States. The project, valued at a staggering $100 billion, will be located in Clay, New York, within the 1,400-acre White Pine Commerce Park.

The Providence, Rhode Island-based contractor will oversee early-stage work on 680 acres of the campus, according to Gilbane. This preconstruction phase represents the first step in Micron’s ambitious multi-decade plan to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint and reduce dependence on overseas chip production.

The site preparation plan is extensive. Crews will first produce and deliver aggregate to bring the site to rough grade, then proceed with large-scale clearing of trees and brush across both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 construction zones. Following that, the soil will be removed and replaced with processed aggregate, enabling stable foundations for the high-tech manufacturing infrastructure to come.

Stormwater management is also a priority. Gilbane will construct basins and drainage systems designed to handle the facility’s operational footprint, while also putting in place permanent perimeter fencing equipped with security features. Temporary fencing and security systems will be deployed as needed and adapted as site conditions evolve.

“No official groundwork can start until the completion of state and federal environmental review processes and other permitting requirements,” Micron said in a statement shared with Construction Dive. “In the meantime, the semiconductor company will have Gilbane begin outreach to trade contractors to prepare for site work later this year.”

Micron added that procurement for subcontractor packages is set to begin this month and continue into September, opening opportunities for a wide range of construction and trade professionals to take part in this historic project.

The facility is expected to be a cornerstone in advancing U.S. semiconductor self-reliance, especially following the global chip shortages experienced during the pandemic. Once complete, the Clay plant will produce advanced memory chips used in everything from smartphones to autonomous vehicles, defense systems, and AI applications.

The White Pine Commerce Park site offers strategic advantages, including access to major transportation routes and proximity to a skilled workforce in the Syracuse metropolitan area. The first phase of construction will establish the foundation for what could eventually be multiple cleanroom buildings, each equipped with cutting-edge chip fabrication technology.

Micron’s investment in Clay is part of its broader commitment under the CHIPS and Science Act, which incentivizes domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The project is also expected to generate thousands of direct construction jobs and long-term high-tech manufacturing roles, bolstering both the local and national economy.

Originally reported by Sebastian Obando in Construction Dive.