The 9 largest commercial construction starts of May 2025

Total construction starts rebounded 13% in Could however nonetheless lag final yr’s stage of shovels hitting filth, in line with Dodge Building Community.

Nonresidential constructing begins, which embody workplace, resort and healthcare work, jumped 18% in Could, whereas nonbuilding exercise, reminiscent of highways, bridges and utility initiatives, grew 20%. Residential begins ticked up 2% throughout the month, in line with the info.

The rebound gives some aid for contractors after a slow April, although financial uncertainty and ongoing coverage questions could restrict how long the momentum lasts, mentioned Sarah Martin, affiliate director of forecasting at Dodge Building Community, within the launch.

“Building begins rebounded throughout most sectors in Could, bouncing again from a sluggish April,” mentioned Martin. “Nevertheless, year-to-date figures stay beneath final yr’s tempo. Ongoing uncertainty round commerce coverage and the financial outlook is more likely to preserve construction activity in check for the months forward.”

Listed below are the 9 largest U.S. initiatives to interrupt floor in Could, in line with Dodge:

• The $1.5 billion Sierra photo voltaic farm and storage challenge in Fallon, Nevada.
• The $1.2 billion Delta Blues superior energy station in Greenville, Mississippi. 
• The $1.2 billion BART practice management modernization in Oakland, California.
• The $900 million SpaceX Starship GigaBay facility in Brevard County, Florida.
• The $780 million College of Kentucky CTC Markey most cancers remedy and ambulatory surgical procedure heart in Lexington, Kentucky.
• The $720 million Pfizer HQ residential conversion in New York Metropolis.
• The $705 million DSHS Western State forensic hospital in Lakewood, Washington.
• The $403 million Domino Sugar residential redevelopment in Williamsburg, New York.
• The $290 million Monmouth Sq. residential growth in Eatontown, New Jersey.

Begins development

Nonbuilding development begins surged in Could to a seasonally adjusted annual charge of $336 billion, in line with Dodge.

Utility work greater than doubled with a 102% spike, whereas environmental public works jumped 9%. Freeway and bridge begins, alternatively, slipped 5% throughout the month, in line with the report.

Regardless of Could’s bounce, nonbuilding exercise stays 2% decrease on a year-to-date foundation. Utility work has declined 22% to this point this yr, whereas environmental public works dropped 5%. Freeway and bridge development, alternatively, is up 6% yr thus far, in line with Dodge.

Nonresidential begins climbed to a seasonally adjusted annual charge of $459 million in Could, led by a 28% soar in industrial development initiatives. Retail, workplace and warehouse initiatives all posted good points, whereas institutional begins rose 19% amid stronger healthcare exercise. Manufacturing exercise, in distinction, dropped 13% over the month.

By way of Could, nonresidential begins ticked down 6% in comparison with the identical interval final yr. Business begins remained up 6%, whereas institutional exercise dipped 2%, in line with the report.

Residential begins improved to a seasonally adjusted annual charge of $368 billion. That development got here solely from the multifamily sector, which jumped 15%, whereas single-family begins declined 5%. To this point this yr, residential groundbreakings declined 5% in comparison with 2024, with single-family begins down 9% and multifamily up 5%, in line with Dodge.