Category: Leadership

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for the Week Ending December 19, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

KCA’s Mental Awareness Task Force Announces Monthly Seminar Series: Titled, Building A Stronger Workforce, the KCA announced this week that starting January 28, 2026, the Association will host a monthly seminar series. Construction is a tough industry and this series tackles real life mental health issues impacting our industry. For more info: A 2026 Construction Seminar Series Building A Stronger Workforce.

Groundbreaking on Massive Southern Berks Industrial Park: A huge 5.5 million-sq-ft industrial park officially broke ground in Southern Berks County, on land once part of the Bethlehem Steel site. Once complete, it’s expected to generate ~2,750 jobs and roughly $2 billion in economic activity, with Phase I scheduled by late 2026. READ MORE.

Pennsylvania Continues Explosive Data Center Expansion: Despite environmental and grid capacity concerns, Pennsylvania’s data center construction boom is accelerating—with approvals like converting the former Cheswick coal plant into a data center moving forward. This positions Pennsylvania as a major hub for AI-driven infrastructure, though some communities and energy regulators are pushing back. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for the Week Ending December 12, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Major Development Announcement for Historic Philadelphia Landmark: Developers revealed new plans for the Wanamaker Building in downtown Philadelphia that will transform the historic site with a renovated Grand Court, residential conversion of upper floors, and an 18×60-foot rooftop pool. This project is intended to overhaul a struggling section of Market East and boost economic activity. Construction is expected to start in early 2026. READ MORE.

Energy Efficiency Jobs Continue to Grow: A recent report highlights that energy efficiency employment climbed 4.63% in 2024, outpacing national growth, with over 76,000 people working in the sector across Pennsylvania. This growth reflects stronger demand for energy-efficient construction and retrofits. READ MORE.

Pennsylvanians Are Skeptical of AI’s Impact on the Economy: A new poll shows nearly twice as many Pennsylvanians believe AI will hurt the economy as those who think it’ll help — with concerns especially around job losses and impacts on local industries like data centers. This sentiment contrasts with ongoing tech infrastructure expansion. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending December 5, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Esplanade Breaks Ground in Pittsburgh: Officials this week — including Josh Shapiro — joined developers to break ground on the $740 million Esplanade project in Pittsburgh’s North Side / North Shore. The plan calls for 15 acres of former industrial / brownfield land to be transformed into a mixed-use waterfront development: up to 750 apartments (20% affordable), 126 condos, retail, entertainment venues, green space, and a signature ~200-foot Ferris wheel. First-phase work — including site demolition, infrastructure, and apartment/retail preparation — is underway now, with the Ferris wheel, housing, and retail expected to open around 2028; full completion could run into 2029. The project is being pitched as a “game changer” for revitalizing underused riverfront space, creating thousands of jobs (jobs-creation estimates include both construction and long-term roles), and boosting local economy and livability. READ MORE.

Pennsylvania Comprehensive Housing Bill In Spotlight as Legislators Try to Address Housing Shortage: This week, a bipartisan group of state legislators introduced a new housing bill intended to ease the state’s deep housing shortage — currently estimated at a shortfall of at least 100,000 units statewide. The package aims to encourage new building development, streamline permitting, and incentivize conversion or redevelopment of underutilized properties — partly to overcome delays tied to local government structure and red tape. The effort aligns with the recently drafted Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan (PHAP), which seeks to increase housing affordability and supply across the Commonwealth. READ MORE.

PennDOT & Infrastructure Work Update: The state completed its 2025 construction season on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, investing over $737 million in maintenance, road resurfacing (24.3 miles), and modernization — including demolition of old toll plazas and construction of new Open Road Tolling (ORT) structures across the state. Why it matters: These infrastructure updates have real consequences for traffic, commuting, and long-term mobility across the state. For residents, they affect travel times and may influence where people choose to live or commute — but they also reflect ongoing investment in making Pennsylvania’s transportation network safer, more modern, and more efficient. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Top 10 Things the KCA is Thankful for this Year!

Top 10 Things the Keystone Contractors Association Is Thankful For This Year

  1. Our Member Companies
    The heart of KCA — dedicated contractors, suppliers, and industry partners who embody professionalism, innovation, and integrity in construction. Contact a KCA Member Today!
  2. A Strong, Skilled Workforce
    We’re grateful for the tradespeople who build Pennsylvania’s future every day. Their craftsmanship, commitment to safety, and pride in their work are the foundation of our industry. We are so grateful for our labor partners: Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Pennsylvania Laborers District Council, Cement Masons Locals 526 and 592, Operating Engineers Local 66, and Bricklayers Local 9.
  3. Supportive Families at Home
    Behind every worker is a family that sacrifices and supports the long hours and hard work it takes to build this state. Make sure our workers take care of their families and remind them to take advantage of their Employee Assistance Programs: EAP Best Practices for Construction Employers.
  4. Industry Partnerships & Collaboration
    From labor organizations to educational institutions to peer associations, our collaborative spirit continues to push the industry forward. We hope to see you as we partner with industry friends to host Improving Project Outcomes: IPO: Building Tomorrow – The Next Generation Panel (Toy Drive Too!), Dec 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM.
  5. Advocacy & Legislative Progress
    The growing recognition of construction’s role in Pennsylvania’s economy — and momentum on key industry issues like workforce development and public procurement reform.
  6. Safety Above All
    Continued advances in safety training, jobsite awareness, and mental health initiatives that help ensure every worker goes home at the end of the day. Checkout the KCA Safety & Wellness Video Library.
  7. Opportunities for the Next Generation
    Expanding apprenticeship programs, outreach to schools, and growing interest among young people in choosing construction as a career. 
  8. Resilience in a Changing Economy
    Despite challenges — labor shortages, material costs, economic uncertainties — our industry continues to adapt, innovate, and build. KCA is adapting as we educate construction companies in implementing new technologies and you can help. Please take a moment to complete the AI Usage & Needs Survey:   Microsoft Forms     |     Google Forms.
  9. Community Impact
    We’re proud of the charitable work, volunteer efforts, and community projects our members take on — proving construction builds more than just structures.
  10. A Shared Purpose
    Above all, we are thankful for a unified mission: to build a better Pennsylvania, support our members, strengthen the industry, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending November 21, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Central Pennsylvania AEC Holiday Toy Drive – Time to register for the Improving Project Outcomes year end event featuring a panel of tomorrow’s leaders as well as the popular AEC Toy Drive! December 15th – See you there: To register: Building Tomorrow, The Next Generation Panel.

Oakmont Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Begins: A major construction project kicked off to build or upgrade a wastewater treatment facility in Oakmont, PA. This infrastructure build is important for environmental management and local utilities. READ MORE.

Highway Work on U.S. 1 in Bucks County: PennDOT confirmed construction (lane closures) along U.S. 1 in Bucks County for the week. These are part of a $116 million reconstruction and widening project on that stretch. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending November 14, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania State Budget Update: After months of negotiations, this week Pennsylvania leaders finalized a $50.1 B budget for fiscal year 2025-26m representing a 4.7% increase over last year. The agreement avoids using the Rainy Day Fund by repurposing roughly $3 B in lapsed or excess funds from state agencies and special accounts, while trimming $500 M from the Governor’s original Human Services proposal. Lawmakers also rebased agency budgets to reflect actual spending, helping contain overall growth without any broad-based tax increases or new revenues from gaming, tobacco or other alternative sources. READ MORE.

MORE State Budget News: A major centerpiece of the final deal is energy and economic reform. The budget withdraws Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and includes new permitting reforms to streamline project approvals. It also continues to the Corporate Net Income Tax phase-dowm and maintains expanded business deductions – policies expected to save employers roughly $1.4 B compared to previous years. READ MORE.

LASTLY on the State Budget: On education and families, lawmakers added $50 M for school-choice scholarships and preserved cyber-charter options by rejecting a proposed statewide rate cap. The budget also boosts K-12 funding and introduces a new state Earned Income Tax Credit (10% of the federal EITC) for working Pennsylvanians. Additional investments support seniors, agriculture, and transit – all without tapping the state’s emergency reserves. Overall the 2025-26 State Budget reflects a compromise that curbs spending, protects taxpayers and strengthens Pennsylvania’s long-term fiscal stability. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending November 7, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

The General Election was this Week – I Hope Construction Voted: The general election was held this past Tuesday; it was a non-presidential, off-year election focused primarily on municipal races (e.g., mayors, school boards, county offices), and judicial retentions. These elections typically see lower turnout than presidential or midterm cycles due to less national attention and fewer high-profile races. Based on available data, statewide voter turnout in 2025 was approximately 32% of eligible voters. This represents a slight increase over recent comparable off-year elections, attributed in part to judicial retention votes and local issues like infrastructure and economic revitalization, which may have boosted engagement in urban and suburban areas. Early reports from counties like Bucks (initial estimates around 28-42%) and York noted stronger-than-expected participation compared to primaries, with steady voter streams and occasional lines—uncommon for off-year cycles.

Major Data Center Campus Proposed in Lackawanna County: Archbald I LLC has filed zoning permit applications to build 22 buildings across two campuses in Archbald — 18 buildings on ~410 acres and 4 buildings on ~66 acres — totaling about 3.3 million sq ft of floor space. Large scale campus means job opportunities, infrastructure demand, and local economic impact (e.g., utilities, transport). READ MORE.

Pennsylvania DOT Wraps Up Big Season of Road/Bridge Construction in South Central PA: District 8 (covering Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York counties) reports: 111 active construction projects this year, of which 53 completed so far; work included replacement/ repair of 32 bridges and paving of 147 miles of roadway. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week ending October 31, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Data Center Building Surge & Regulation: Pennsylvania is being positioned as a major data center and AI-infrastructure hub, with private & public investment in the tens of billions. Because of this boom, state legislators have introduced several bills (e.g., the “Data Center Act” and “Data Center Siting & Permitting Act”) to regulate siting, permitting, environmental and community impacts of large data-center builds in Pennsylvania. Key construction-themes: Brownfield & former power-plant sites being reused, requiring remediation; large utility / water / power infrastructure upgrades; workforce & trades implications (lots of construction jobs). READ MORE.

U.S. Government Pledges $80 B to Westinghouse to Build Nuclear Reactors: The U.S. government, together with the owners of Westinghouse, entered into a strategic partnership to construct a new fleet of nuclear reactors worth at least $80 billion. The technology to be used is the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design (and possibly similar large reactor types). The deal was announced in the context of an energy/industrial push: the administration wants to ramp up U.S. nuclear capacity and meet rising electricity demand (including from large data-centers/AI). READ MORE.

Delays & Freezes on Major Infrastructure/Federal Projects: With funding legislation stalled in the U.S. Senate, the government shutdown is causing certain federal projects to freeze: new solicitations are delayed, contract awards are put on hold because federal agency staff (contracting officers, inspectors) are furloughed or unpaid. Example: About $18 billion in funding pending for two large NYC projects (Hudson Tunnel Project & Second Avenue Subway Phase 2) has been put “on hold” amid the shutdown and related investigations. Example: In Chicago, ~$2.1 billion of federal infrastructure funding was paused, affecting the extension of the Red Line in the city’s South Side. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending October 24, 2025

This week’s top construction stories in Pennsylvania:

Construction, Government & Military Promote Drug Take Back Day: The KCA joined forces with state government agencies and the Department Military & Veterans Affairs to raise awareness for this year’s Drug Take Back Day, which is tomorrow, October 25, 2025. READ MORE.

Big Manufacturing Relocation & HQ Move to Pittsburgh: Eos Energy  Enterprises is committing $353 million to relocate its headquarters to Pittsburgh (North Shore) and expand manufacturing operations in Allegheny County. This is a major industrial / commercial development story: large-scale building/ expansion, new jobs, and sizeable investment in built infrastructure. The HQ will be 40,000 sq ft. The manufacturing expansion is in a 432,000 sq ft facility in Marshall Township, PA. READ MORE.

Data Center Siting Legislation Could Shape Large Commercial Builds: Senate Bill 991, the “Data Center Siting and Permitting Act”, is moving in Pennsylvania and may significantly affect how large-scale data‐center buildings are developed in the state. A “commercial” building sector angle: data centers are large industrial/commercial facilities with high power, cooling and structural build requirements. The draft legislation aims to reduce red tape and attract data‐center investment. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending October 17, 2025

This week’s top construction news in Pennsylvania:

AEC Industry Unites to Raise Scholarship Funds: The KCA held its annual sporting clays event this week, attracting construction executives, labor leaders and policy makers. To view the pictures from this event: 2025 KCA Sporting Clays Event.

Does Time Run Against the King? Clearfield County Jail Case Before Supreme Court: A legal challenge before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is seeking to reinterpret or reduce the 12-year statute of repose for construction liability. If successful, this could expose architects, engineers, and contractors to far longer liability periods than under current law. READ MORE.

$39 M State Funding to Prepare Shovel Ready SITES: Pennsylvania is allocating $39 million through its PA SITES initiative to ready 11 industrial parcels (improving infrastructure, utilities, access, remediation) to accelerate construction once investors commit. The aim is to reduce delays and attract large-scale development to underused land. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!