As demand for data centers, AI-ready infrastructure, and semiconductor facilities accelerates across the U.S., Skanska USA announced Monday that it is expanding its Advanced Technology division (SAT). The move, which builds on the unit’s February launch, is aimed at positioning the global contractor to capture market share in some of the fastest-growing construction sectors.
The newly strengthened SAT will now integrate Skanska’s mission-critical infrastructure team — responsible for data center builds — with its semiconductor delivery group. Together, the merged division will give clients a one-stop shop for highly specialized projects requiring precision, speed, and technical expertise.
SAT will be supported by more than 285 professionals in data centers, high-tech manufacturing, and advanced technology. These subject matter experts will be organized into mobile groups that can quickly deploy to support local project teams nationwide. According to Skanska, this setup ensures consistency, scalability, and efficiency across geographies.
Going forward, SAT will act as a centralized hub for operational oversight, commercial management, and resource allocation, allowing the builder to respond more nimbly to surging client needs.
The expansion reflects projections that the data center construction market will grow at a compound annual rate of 10.2% through 2030, while semiconductor cleanroom projects will expand at 3.86% annually through 2034. With AI workloads, cloud adoption, and edge computing driving massive infrastructure needs, contractors are under pressure to innovate.
To meet those challenges, Skanska is leaning into modular and prefabricated techniques such as skid-mounted MEP systems, precast concrete shells, and plug-and-play electrical rooms. The company said these methods cut timelines, reduce onsite labor, and enable repeatable designs across regions.
“As these industries move toward modularity, sustainability and AI-ready infrastructure, our unique mix of experience, innovation and customer-centric execution ensures we’re doing more than keeping pace—we’re setting the standard,” said Katie Coulson, executive vice president and general manager, who co-leads SAT alongside Anita Nelson, executive officer for SAT and Skanska Integrated Solutions. Nelson previously served as chief strategy officer for Skanska USA.
The timing is strategic: data center construction has become one of the most resilient markets in the U.S., even as rising input prices and interest rate uncertainty have slowed activity in other building sectors. According to August data, copper wire and cable costs rose 13.8% year-over-year, posing a challenge for contractors, as these materials are central to large-scale data center projects.
Skanska is not alone in targeting the sector. Earlier this year, PCL Construction launched its Manufacturing Center of Excellence to focus on reshoring-related opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. In July, the firm tapped company veteran Tyler Kautz to lead its data center unit.
Still, Skanska’s integrated approach may give it an edge. By consolidating semiconductor and mission-critical infrastructure capabilities under one umbrella, SAT aims to streamline delivery for owners navigating one of the most technically demanding and competitive markets in construction today.
With AI adoption accelerating, hyperscale cloud providers expanding, and U.S. semiconductor investments rising under federal incentives, Skanska’s bet on advanced technology could secure its place as a key player in shaping America’s next-generation industrial and digital backbone.
Originally reported by Matthew Thibault in Construction Dive.
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