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An index tracking the value of nonresidential projects entering planning shot up 10% in June, led by persistently high activity in data center construction.
The Dodge Momentum Index, produced by construction data and analytics company Dodge Construction Network, rose to 198.6 from the revised May reading of 179.9. The index measures fluctuations in the number of projects from what was recorded in 2000, the baseline year for the index, with 2000's level equivalent to 100.
The index is up 43% from June 2019 levels, signaling strong construction spending in 2025, DCN said. Increases in projects entering planning are shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year, according to DCN.
New data center projects accounted for the bulk of commercial planning growth in the month, DCN Associate Director of Forecasting Sarah Martin said in a video accompanying a news release.
Data center construction has increased rapidly as artificial intelligence and other technologies have driven the need for greater processing power. But June was a particularly big month for data centers. Two major projects — a $420M data center in Leesburg, Virginia, and a $400M data center project in Irving, Texas — went into planning, according to DCN.
A June CBRE survey found that nearly 100% of CRE investors plan to up their investments in data centers this year.
There was also steady growth in retail projects and generally across other sectors, “fueling another strong month for commercial planning,” Martin said.
Commercial planning increased 14.5% month-over-month in June, while institutional planning remained roughly flat, increasing by just 0.2%. Martin said this overall increase “indicates confidence in 2025 market conditions.”
Nationally, 38 projects valued at $100M or more entered planning in June, with the two data centers in Virginia and Texas dominating the costliest projects.
The most valuable institutional projects that went into planning in June were the $305M Horizon Juvenile Center Annex in Woodstock, New York, and a $285M research and development complex in San Diego.
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