Amid explosive growth in the data center sector fueled by artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure demands, PCL Construction is strengthening its commitment to this market by appointing company veteran Tyler Kautz as its new vice president of data centers.

Kautz, who previously served as vice president and district manager for PCL’s Seattle operations, will now spearhead the firm’s push deeper into mission critical projects — facilities that must operate continuously without fail, such as data centers and military installations.

In addition to leading the data centers team, Kautz will also take the reins of PCL’s Mission Critical Center of Excellence, which has delivered over 120 large-scale, high-complexity projects ranging from Tier IV fault-tolerant data centers to extensive retrofits and critical system upgrades.

The move comes as the data center construction market shows no signs of slowing. In its July 7 announcement, the Edmonton, Alberta-based contractor, which has its U.S. headquarters in Denver, cited industry forecasts that project the sector will surge from $287 billion in 2025 to an estimated $1.3 trillion by 2035.

“Tyler represents the future of PCL – he brings deep expertise, strong client relationships, and a collaborative leadership style that reflects our values,” said Cathy Orquiola, president of western U.S. operations for PCL. “As we expand our mission critical and data center operations, I’m confident his leadership will continue to position PCL as the builder of choice in high-tech, fast-growing markets.”

Kautz’s track record includes helping expand PCL’s presence across the Pacific Northwest. While in Seattle, he was instrumental in cultivating ties with major technology clients and leading the original business case that laid the foundation for PCL’s dedicated data center division.

This isn’t the first time PCL has doubled down on a booming sector. Earlier this year, the firm launched its Manufacturing Center of Excellence to unify its expertise in industrial facility design and delivery, positioning itself to streamline complex plant builds and production ramp-ups.

Industry watchers say the demand for data centers remains strong despite concerns about overbuilding and recent project slowdowns by some tech giants. Data center vacancy rates hit record lows in early 2025, underscoring the need for contractors who can deliver reliable, mission critical facilities that power cloud computing, AI and next-generation digital services.

With Kautz at the helm of its growing data center unit, PCL is aiming to be at the forefront of this transformation — positioning itself as a key player helping tech clients meet skyrocketing digital infrastructure demands in an increasingly connected world.

Originally reported by Matthew Thibault in Construction Dive.