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
