The Construction Forum and What Comes Next

I appreciated the opportunity to join Tom Finan, The Construction Forum, and everyone who took part in our fireside chat at the Russell Burns building. It was a thoughtful conversation at a time when the industry is standing at the edge of something much larger than most people realize.

We started by putting the moment in perspective. Since the early days of the PC revolution, roughly one hundred trillion dollars has been invested. In my view, the next wave, driven by artificial intelligence, will match that number and likely do it faster. There will be pauses along the way, but the direction is clear. AI, autonomous vehicles, and robotics are not concepts anymore. They are active forces that will reshape how we build and how we live. At the same time, I believe the commercial markets will return over the next three years, setting the stage for a significant building cycle.

Data centers are a big part of that conversation, though they are often misunderstood. The term itself is too broad. As an industry, we need to do a better job explaining what these facilities are and why they matter. They support everything we do. This is not an abstract idea. It is infrastructure for daily life.

That reality ties directly to power. After years of underinvestment, we are now seeing real momentum to rebuild the grid. Demand is rising again, and with it comes an opportunity to invest in a way that keeps this country strong.

As activity picks up, labor will tighten. Every sector will have to find ways to be more efficient. That means modular construction, manufacturing approaches, and greater use of robotics. The companies that adapt will lead.

None of this happens in isolation. It will take leadership from government, engagement from communities, and a willingness for all stakeholders to sit at the same table. I remain optimistic, especially about the Midwest. The communities that step forward now will see the benefits over the long term.