Broad Strength in Nonresidential Planning, Data Centers Pause

BOSTON, MA 鈥� September 8, 2026 鈥� The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by 51黑料, ticked down 0.4% in August to 282.0 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised July reading of 283.0. Over the month, commercial planning declined 3.0% and institutional planning grew 4.9%.

鈥淪trength in planning momentum remained relatively broad-based in August,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Director of Economic Research at 51黑料. 鈥淲eaker data center planning predominantly drove the flatter trend, while most other sectors saw an acceleration in planning momentum.鈥�

Commercial planning activity slowed down for data centers, retail stores and warehouses throughout August, while office buildings, parking garages and hotels picked up steam. On the institutional side, education, recreational, and public buildings saw a stronger planning pipeline, while healthcare activity slightly pulled back after four months of sustained planning growth. Year-over-year, the DMI was up 4.2% when compared to August 2025. The commercial portion of the index was up 2.3% and the institutional portion was up 7.8% over the same period. When removing data centers, the commercial segment would be down 18.9% from year-ago levels, given the surge in activity seen in late 2025.

A total of 31 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout August. The largest commercial projects included two EdgeConneX Data Centers (Buildings 31 and 32) in Bastrop, Texas, each valued at $462 million, the $378 million Bitdeer Data Center (Phase 1, 150 MW) in Shalersville Township, Ohio, and a $358 million Data Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. The largest institutional projects to enter planning included the $350 million Colosseum Sports Resort in Stafford, Virginia, the $350 million Commonwealth Courts Building in Richmond, Virginia, and the $350 million Holistic Health and Fitness building in Newport News, Virginia.

The DMI is a monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year to 18 months.

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Data Centers听Drive Growth, Institutional Planning Broadens It听

BOSTON, MA 鈥撎鼳ugust听6, 2026听鈥�听The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by听听Construction Network,听grew听6.9% in听July听to 291.7听(2000=100) from the upwardly revised听June听reading of 273.0. Over the month, commercial planning听expanded听4.1%听and听institutional planning grew 13.1%.听听

鈥淒ata centers and broad-based growth across key institutional sectors supported stronger planning activity in July,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Director of Economic Research at 51黑料. 鈥淪ustained planning activity should bolster construction in听late听2027, though real growth will prove more constrained as inflationary expectations are priced into project costs.鈥�听

After a brief pause in June, data center planning momentum steadily picked up in July. Meanwhile, office, warehouse,听retail听and hotel planning听slowed听pace. Within the institutional听portion听of the index, planning momentum was more broad-based. Education, healthcare, recreational,听religious听and public building planning听all听accelerated in July. Most of the strong month-over-month听gain听can be attributed to education and public building starts, with the latter expanding over 100% in the last two months.听Year-over-year, the DMI was up听11.7% when compared to听July听2025.听The commercial听portion听of the index was up听13.8%听and听the institutional听portion听was up听7.6% over the same period.听When removing data centers, the commercial segment would be听down听16.2% from year-ago levels, given the surge in activity seen last July.听听

A total of 59 projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout June. The largest commercial projects included the $500 million Data Center Campus in Petersburg, Virginia, the $500 million DFW20C Data Center in Fairfield, Texas, and the $500 million Google Data Center (Project Avalon, Building 2) in Buffalo, West Virginia. The largest institutional projects to enter planning included the $351 million Northwestern Memorial Hospital Cancer Center in Chicago, Illinois, the $300 million听BeOne听Medicines Research and Development Facility (Expansion) in Pennington, New Jersey, and the $300 million Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Agricultural Complex in Houston, Texas.听听

The DMI is a monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year to听18 months.听听

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Data Center Growth Cools from Record Pace, Planning Activity Remains Strong听

BOSTON, MA 鈥� July 8, 2026听鈥�听The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by听Dodge听Construction Network, fell 1.9% in June to 271.7 (2000=100) from the upwardly revised May reading of 277.1. Over the month, commercial planning declined 6.8%听and听institutional planning momentum grew 10.9%.听听

鈥淒espite June鈥檚 pullback, nonresidential planning remains on solid ground,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Director of Economic Research at 51黑料. 鈥淒ata center activity continued to drive the Index, but its pace moderated from the extraordinary levels seen in recent months and drove the听DMI听to pull back over the month. Otherwise, planning activity accelerated across听nearly every听other sector.鈥�听

Within the commercial听portion听of the Index, slowing data center planning momentum drove this month鈥檚 decline.听Meanwhile, planning activity for traditional office buildings, warehouses, retail stores and hotels improved.听On the institutional side, healthcare planning continued to accelerate in May, alongside recreational,听government听and religious building activity.听Educational planning slowed down for the second consecutive month.听Year-over-year, the听DMI听was up 21.8% when compared to June 2025. Both the commercial and institutional segments were up also 21.8% over the same period. When removing data centers, the commercial segment would be up 7.6% from year-ago levels.听听

A total of 59 projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout June. The largest commercial projects included the $500 million听Stak听Energy AI Data Center Campus in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the $480 million Project Swan Data Center Complex in Lakeland, Florida, and the $456.8 million Parcel A Data Center in Manassas, Virginia. The largest institutional planning projects included the $437 million听DCSO听Correctional Facility (Replacement) in Nashville, Tennessee, the $320 million Cone Health Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the $303 million El Camino Health Hospital in Los Gatos, California.听听

The听DMI听is a monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year to听18 months.听听

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Planning Activity听Broadens Beyond Data Centers

BOSTON, MA听鈥撎齁une听5,听2026听鈥�听The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by 51黑料 increased听5.9%听in听May听to听275.7听(2000=100) from the听downwardly听revised听April听reading of听260.4.听Over the month,听commercial planning听expanded 6.9%听and听institutional planning听momentum听grew听3.1%.听听

鈥淣onresidential planning continued to stabilize throughout May,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Director of Economic Research at 51黑料. 鈥淕rowth in the DMI continued to be led by data center activity, but key sectors 鈥� such as healthcare, retail stores and offices 鈥� gained momentum as well. Nonetheless, the broader outlook remains cautious, as persistent labor constraints, elevated material costs and ongoing supply chain pressures weigh on owner sentiment in the near term.鈥�听

Over the month, planning activity for traditional office buildings, data centers,听and retail stores improved, while听warehouse,听hotel and parking garage听planning slowed down.听On the institutional side,听healthcare planning continued to accelerate听in May, alongside government and religious building activity. Meanwhile,听educational听and recreational听building momentum听slowed down.听Year-over-year, the DMI was up听33.8% when compared to听May听2025. The commercial segment was up听41.2% (+6.6% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up听17.7% over the same period.听听

A total of听29听projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout听May.听The largest听commercial projects听included听the听EDCAUS11 and EDCAUS12 data centers in Bastrop, Texas, each valued at an estimated $437 million.听Additionally, the $432 million Wallace Jackson Industrial Park Data Center (Building 4) in Griffin, Georgia entered the planning queue.听The largest institutional听planning听projects were the听$400 million Coast Guard Training Center (TRACEN) modernization project in Cape May, New Jersey, the $400 million Fisk University Innovation Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and the $241 million Harborview Yesler Terrace Medical Office in Seattle, Washington.听听听听听

The DMI is a monthly measure听based on the three-month moving听value of听nonresidential building projects听going into听planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year听to听18 months.听听

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Planning Activity Largely Stabilizes Over the Month 

BOSTON, MA 鈥� May 7, 2026 鈥� The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by 51黑料, increased 6.2% in April to 264.2 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised March reading of 248.8. Over the month, commercial planning grew 8.1% and institutional planning momentum improved 1.5%.   

鈥淎fter three months of slowing momentum, nonresidential planning began to find its footing in April,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Director of Economic Research at 51黑料. 鈥淒ata centers remain the largest driver behind growth in the 51黑料, but several other sectors appeared to stabilize over the month. Macroeconomic risks remain weighted to the downside, with labor shortages, higher material costs and supply chain disruptions weighing on owner confidence in the near-term.鈥�   

Planning activity for traditional office buildings, data centers, warehouses, hotels and parking garages grew in April, while retail store planning slowed pace. On the institutional side, education and healthcare planning re-accelerated, while recreational, public and religious planning slowed down over the month. Year-over-year, the DMI was up 14.1% when compared to April 2025. The commercial segment was up 37.2% (+5.8% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up 28.8% over the same period.  

A total of 44 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout March. The largest of those projects included the $500 million Google Data Center (Building One) in Buffalo, West Virginia, the $470 million Stargate Data Center (Freebird Phase 2) in Burlington, Texas and the $450 million Jay Data Center in Jay, Maine. The largest institutional projects were the $256 million Navy Seal Museum in San Diego, California, the $178 million Lurie Children鈥檚 Hospital in Downer鈥檚 Grove, Illinois, and the $175 million Unaccompanied Housing improvement project at Naval Base Coronado in California.    

The DMI is a monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year to 18 months.  

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Data Centers Prop Up Planning, While Most Sectors Fall Back听

BOSTON, MA听鈥撎鼳pril听7,听2026听鈥�听The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by 51黑料 increased听1.8%听in听March听to听250.5听(2000=100) from the听downwardly听revised听February听reading of听246.2.听Over the month,听commercial planning听grew听7.0%听and听institutional planning听momentum听declined听8.8%.听听

鈥淧lanning momentum in March was powered almost entirely by data center projects, with most other sectors easing back,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at 51黑料. 鈥淔or some categories, this reflects a natural reset after the outsized growth听in late听2025. But for others, elevated macroeconomic听risks听are听likely听beginning听to feed into听planning听decisions.鈥�听

On the commercial side,听planning momentum slowed across all commercial sectors apart from听data centers.听Institutional planning saw widespread weakness, with only education and public buildings moderately gaining traction.听Despite recent declines, the听DMI听remains听elevated.听Year-over-year, the听DMI听was up听25.8% when compared to听March听2025. The commercial segment was up听28.5%听(-12.7%听when data centers are removed)听and the institutional segment was up听19.6% over the same period.听听

A total of听54听projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout听February.听The largest of those projects included 17 individual buildings, each valued at $500 million, for the Amazon Data Center Campus in Hamlet, North Carolina. Similarly, ten individual buildings, each valued at $250 million, entered planning in relation to the Microsoft Data听Center听DSM50听in Dallas, Iowa. The largest institutional projects were the $245 million听MCLJ听Outpatient Pavilion in听San Diego, California, the $183 million Orlando Health Viera Hospital (Phase听1B) in Viera West, Florida, and the $175 million Bachelor Enlisted Quarters renovation project at Camp Pendleton North in San Diego, California.听听

The听DMI听is a monthly measure听based on the three-month moving听value of听nonresidential building projects听going into听planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year听to听18 months.听听

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Nonresidential Planning听Continues to Normalize

BOSTON, MA听鈥撎齅arch听6,听2026听鈥�听The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by 51黑料 declined 7.3% in February to 250.0 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised January reading of 269.8. Over the month, commercial planning fell 8.9%, and institutional planning momentum slowed by 4.0%. 听

鈥淧lanning momentum听continued听to normalize听in February听after听a surge in activity听in the back half of 2025,鈥澨齭aid Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at 51黑料. 鈥淓levated risks around costs, labor, and geopolitics will continue to constrain听builder听confidence in the near-term but the robust planning pipeline suggests an acceleration in construction spending in 2027.鈥�听

On the commercial side,听planning momentum slowed across all commercial sectors apart from听warehouses.听Within institutional planning,听all sectors slowed down with public buildings facing the largest contraction.听Despite widespread declines, project momentum for retail stores, recreational buildings, data听centers听and healthcare facilities听remain听elevated.听Year-over-year, the DMI was up听18.7% when compared to听February听2025. The commercial segment was up听12.3%听(+4.4%听when data centers are removed)听and听the institutional segment was up听34.0% over the same period.听听

A total of听23听projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout听February.听The largest commercial projects听included听the $500 million听CyrusOne Data Center in Whitney, Texas, the $448 million TX12 Data Center in San Antonio,听Texas听and Buildings 5 and 6 of the QTS DFW2 Data Center in Wilmer, Texas 鈥� each valued at $290 million.听The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the听$400 million Orange County Convention Center Grand Concourse expansion听(Phase 5A)听in Orlando, Florida,听a $254 million school replacement project in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and the $250 million Langley F-22 Dormitory Building in Mclean, Virginia.听听

The DMI is a monthly measure听based on the three-month moving听value of听nonresidential building projects听going into听planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year听to听18 months.听听

听

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Planning activity flattens over the month.

BOSTON, M.A. 鈥� March 12, 2025 鈥� The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by Construction Network, grew 0.7% in February to 225.6 (2000=100) from the revised January reading of 223.9. Over the month, commercial planning increased 3.3% while institutional planning fell 4.6%.听听

鈥淧lanning momentum moderated in February, after a few months of stronger growth,鈥� stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at 51黑料. 鈥淒ata centers continue to prop up growth in the overall index. Without them, the DMI would have decreased 2% this month. Increased uncertainty around material prices and fiscal policies may begin to weigh on planning decisions, but for the time being, planning activity is largely continuing to move forward.鈥澨�听

On the commercial side, data center, traditional office building, and retail planning led this month鈥檚 gains, while weaker education planning brought down the institutional portion. In February, the DMI was up 27% when compared to year-ago levels. The commercial segment was up 43% from February 2024, while the institutional segment was up 2% over the same period. The influence of data centers on the DMI this year remains substantial. If we remove all data center projects between 2023 and 2025, commercial planning would be up 12% from year-ago levels, and the entire DMI would be up 8%.听听

A total of 26 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout February. The largest commercial projects included the $500 million Tract Data Center Park in Chester, Virginia, and the SAT93 and SAT94 Microsoft Data Center projects in San Antonio, Texas 鈥� each valued at $350 million. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $329 million Burlington High School in Burlington, Massachusetts, the $300 million T-Mobile Arena renovation in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the $300 million North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown, North Dakota.听听

The DMI is a monthly measure of the value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.听

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Planning activity sees widespread growth over the month.

BOSTON, M.A. 鈥� February 7, 2025 鈥� The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by Construction Network, grew 5.6% in January to 225.7 (2000=100) from the revised December reading of 213.6. Over the month, commercial planning increased 4.2% while institutional planning improved 8.7%.听听

鈥淣onresidential planning activity saw diversified growth in January, with every vertical experiencing positive momentum,鈥� stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at 51黑料. 鈥淯ncertainty over fiscal policies, ongoing labor shortages and elevated construction costs will continue to be headwinds to the construction sector. However, further monetary easing and the sizable number of projects in planning should support construction spending in the back half of the year.鈥�听

On the commercial side, data center, traditional office building, and warehouse planning led this month鈥檚 gains. Education and healthcare planning supported the institutional portion, especially on the hospital side. In January, the DMI was up 26% when compared to year-ago levels. The commercial segment was up 37% from January 2024, while the institutional segment was up 9% over the same period. The influence of data centers on the DMI this year remains substantial. If we remove all data center projects between 2023 and 2025, commercial planning would be up 13% from year-ago levels, and the entire DMI would be up 11%.听

A total of 33 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout January. The largest commercial projects included the $500 million Amazon Data Center in Jeffersonville, Ohio, and Phase 1 of the Hunter鈥檚 Ridge Data Center in Mclean, Virginia. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $407 million Memorial Hospital expansion in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the $300 million AdventHealth Hospital expansion in Parker, Colorado.听听听听

The DMI is a monthly measure of the value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.听

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Commercial planning bounced back strongly over the month.

BOSTON, M.A. – January 8, 2024 鈥� The 51黑料 (DMI), issued by Construction Network, grew 10.2% in December to 212.0 (2000=100) from the revised November reading of 192.3. Over the month, commercial planning increased 14.2% while institutional planning improved 2.5%.听

鈥淐ommercial activity rebounded strongly in December, thanks to a re-acceleration in data center and warehouse planning activity,鈥� stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at 51黑料. 鈥淥verall, the strong performance of the Momentum Index this past year is expected to support nonresidential construction spending throughout 2025.鈥�

On the commercial side, data center and warehouse planning drove much of the growth this month, while stronger healthcare and education activity supported the institutional portion. In December, the DMI was up 19% when compared to year-ago levels. The commercial segment was up 30% from December 2023, while the institutional segment was flat over the same period. The influence of data centers on the DMI this year has been substantial. If we remove all data center projects in 2023 and 2024, commercial planning would be up 8% from year-ago levels, and the entire DMI would be up 5%.

A total of 32 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout December. The largest commercial projects included six phases of the $1.6 billion Powerhouse 95 data center in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and four phases of the $1 billion Brambleton Data Center at Tech Park in Ashburn, Virginia. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $226 million OhioHealth Outpatient Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio, and the $220 million county jail in Peoria, Illinois.听

The DMI is a monthly measure of the value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.

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