Reflections on Dirtbag Billionaire by Yvon Chouinard — exploring how builders and business leaders can balance growth, sustainability, and integrity. A personal take on purpose-driven leadership and environmental responsibility in construction.
In Cheyenne this week, we broke ground on a large-scale data center campus being developed by our client, Related Digital. The site spans 115 acres. The first phase includes a 184,000-square-foot building with 88 megawatts of capacity, already leased by CoreWeave, with plans to scale that to over 300 megawatts. These numbers are big, and they're part of an even bigger shift. Data infrastructure is accelerating, and Cheyenne is becoming a key stop on that digital map.
Engineering in Plain Sight by Grady Hillhouse is a visually engaging guide to the everyday infrastructure around us. This post explores how the book simplifies complex systems, inspires curiosity, and aligns with Clayco’s philosophy of making the invisible visible in the built environment.
When people imagine a construction site, they often see the visible: cranes lifting steel, workers in vests, machines pushing dirt. But long before any of that happens—and long after crews leave for the day—there’s a quiet force keeping it all together: preconstruction and logistics.
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Each week, I get a report that quietly captures something pretty extraordinary: how far we’ve come in integrating drone technology into the construction process. It’s not just about flight logs or video counts, it’s about technology changing the building process.
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When Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the world saw a nation stand up with extraordinary courage to defend its sovereignty and democracy. Among the many inspiring leaders of this moment, one who stands out to me is Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation.
Malik Johnson didn’t set out to become a pipe fitter. He was just trying to keep his family afloat. His mom was sick, they were facing hard times, and he needed steady work. He started with concrete labor. Then COVID hit, and the work dried up. He delivered food. He did odd jobs. And when the chance came to join an apprenticeship through Clayco’s Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI), he took it.
When I started seeking out rising stars to be my fellow, my goal was simple", my goal was simple: create opportunities for young talent to sit at tables they wouldn’t normally be invited to. What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn in return.
Change is scary. When I first heard about the potential of AI—how it could reshape jobs, blur what machines can do—I felt it, too: that unsettling tug. It’s natural to worry. I worried that AI might widen economic gaps or replace human skills. But then I looked at why we worry, and realized those fears often mirror our greatest ambitions: curing diseases, building sustainable homes, accelerating innovation. What if AI could help solve those fears?
When I started Clayco in 1984—the company went from 3 employees to about 30 people on the payroll by 1986 we were doing $10 million in annual revenue—the company still felt fragile, hungry, and unpredictable. I had sold my interest in Machine Maintenance Equipment in 1983, struck out alone, and here we were: a young team, undercapitalized, but full of grit and resolve.
At Clayco, we believe in building for what’s next — and there’s no better example of that than our latest announcement at The Cubes at Mesa Gateway in Mesa, Arizona. Hadrian, a cutting-edge advanced manufacturing company, is bringing its third factory — Factory 3 — to life inside a 269,500-square-foot facility developed by CRG, Clayco’s real estate development arm.. This project represents a $200 million investment and will create 350 high-skill manufacturing jobs in the Southeast Valley. Even more impressive: Hadrian plans to be fully operational by January 2026 — just six months from now.
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At 66 years old, I think my story is probably about 7000 days away from being over. Life moves fast. No matter where you are in life, whether you’re just starting out, halfway through, or well down the road, you’re still writing your story. Every day, every choice, every relationship is a part of the story. I have about 7000 days left to write mine.
At Clayco, when we talk about the art and science of building, we mean more than just construction—we mean using the power of people, teams, and ideas to invent better ways to build. Our work on the Kali Hotel at Hollywood Park is a perfect example of what’s possible when we bring together the right people, the right processes, and the right technology from day one.
Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt was a big part of shaping Clayco’s brand. She’s always been a designer—and now she’s starting something new with her husband, Rob Leavitt: Pershing Works, Inc. while continuing to lead Kuhlmann Leavitt, Inc., their design studio in St. Louis.
This is Taylor Spinks. And this all started with her.I wanted to personally thank Taylor for the courageous decision she made to step into my office and tell me the truth—that she, and many other Clayco team members, were suffering under crushing student loan debt.
I've always liked Mark Twain—who doesn't? But author Ron Chernow digs into the man behind the mustache in a new way. Mark Twain isn't just a great biography—it’s one of the best books I’ve read in the last few years. It’s sharp, packed with fascinating details, and laugh-out-loud funny. And in a world that can feel pretty heavy some days, it really cheered me up.
At Clayco, we know the art and science of building is always evolving. We believe there’s always better way to build, you just have to challenge yourself to figure it out. That mindset doesn’t stop at the skyline—it runs all the way down to the concrete we stand on. In our latest field test, our teams at Clayco and Concrete Strategies set out to answer a simple but important question: Can we reimagine the materials we use every day without slowing down the work?
It’s now been just over a month since the tornado hit St. Louis, and the push to rebuild remains steady and strong.Every day, recovery teams, volunteers, city officials, and local businesses are working shoulder to shoulder—clearing debris, restoring homes, and rebuilding hope. What began as an urgent response has grown into a sustained, city-wide operation.
Cold storage is no-frills, but it’s one of the trickiest and most important things we build, and we love the challenge. Clayco, alongside our design partners at Lamar Johnson Collaborative, is proud to be delivering a 294,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Joliet for Saxum Development. This one’s going to be a game-changer.
If you're building something bold — a startup, a career, a movement — then you know this already: talent gets you started, but character keeps you in the game. That’s why Mia Hamm’s recent commencement speech at UNC-Chapel Hill hit home. She didn’t talk about winning World Cups. She talked about how to lead, how to last, and how to show up for the people around you when it matters most.
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In a landslide victory, the voters of St. Louis elected Cara Spencer as St. Louis’s 48th mayor. The mayor-to-be ran an almost flawless campaign, knocking on doors in every corner of the city and winning the support of voters across the political, racial, and geographic spectrum.
The Clark Family Branch stands as a beacon of learning, creativity, and community in St. Louis. As the largest branch in the St. Louis County Library system, this 74,000-square-foot space offers an unparalleled experience for residents of all ages, combining state-of-the-art resources with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
I teamed up with an AI version of myself (yes, you read that right!) to highlight the innovation and incredible milestones of the past year and our excitement for the future. This conversation looks back at some of the landmark developments that defined our year.
Kiku Obata is a name synonymous with innovation, creativity, and thoughtful design. As the founder and principal of Kiku Obata & Company, a St. Louis-based design firm with a global reputation, Kiku has spent decades shaping the way people interact with spaces, brands, and communities.
It is with a heavy heart that I would like to pay my respects to Edward “Tee” Turner Baur's life and legacy. Tee was a very successful real estate expert who gave me great encouragement and advice over the years. We both shared the same hometown of St. Louis and a love for outdoor athletics and hiking.
Try looking for something else!
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