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S2 E89 - $3 Billion Projects, AI Data Centers & The Future of Construction
Description
In this episode of Beers with Contractors, hosts Will welcomes Terry back to Beers with Contractors, joking about his absence, then they discuss construction headlines and trends. They note US construction spending fell 0.5% in July 2026 (down 3.8% year over year) with residential especially soft, while commercial remains active, increasingly driven by AI data center work that may be overly concentrated for some contractors. They cover data-center MEP demands, cost-driven efficiency efforts, rising steel prices and lead times, and growing interest in mass timber. The hosts argue specialty subcontractors (especially electrical/mechanical) offer strong opportunities, and that AI is reducing sales friction for small residential contractors, though customer-facing tasks may be automated too quickly. They touch on repossession/delinquency trends, major megaprojects and subsidies, OU career fair salaries, and a NAHB finding that residential firms under 20 employees account for over half of fatalities while employing under one-third of workers, emphasizing safety systems.
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Is Construction Slowing
03:00 Data Center Boom
04:55 Cooling And Power Tech
07:45 Steel Prices And Timber
10:04 Who Profits Most
13:46 Residential In The Tank
15:27 AI Makes Buying Easy
16:57 Repossessions And Housing
18:52 Customer Service And Bots
20:23 Automation Vs People
21:27 32 Hour Workweek Debate
22:37 Contractor Marketing Partner
23:56 Third Person Speaker Story
24:22 Why We Never Work Less
26:31 Residential Demand Trends
28:58 Mega Projects And Subsidies
34:59 Construction Career Fair Pay
37:42 Small Contractor Safety Crisis
43:13 Wrap Up And Disclaimers
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