Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 22, 2026

Please join the KCA in taking a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. May we carry their legacy forward with gratitude, respect and a commitment to the freedoms they protected.

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week.

Contractors Relieved by PA Supreme Court Decision in the Clearfield County Case: The case was Clearfield County v. Transystems Corp., involving defects alleged at the Clearfield County jail project that had originally been completed in 1981. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Pennsylvania’s 12-year construction statute of repose cannot be bypassed by government entities using the doctrine of nullum tempus (“time does not run against the king”). If the county had won, public owners potentially could have pursued construction claims decades after projects were completed. The Keystone Contractors Association filed an amicus brief supporting the contractors and arguing against extending nullum tempus to statutes of repose. The Court’s opinion specifically acknowledged KCA’s participation along with several industry groups. This week the KCA hosted a seminar on the decision, to watch the video: We Dodged A Bullet, Understanding the PA Supreme Court’s Clearfield County Decision.

AI & Data Center Construction Boom Continues to Dominate: The largest story in Pennsylvania construction remains the surge in AI-driven data center development. State lawmakers are now debating new regulations tied to energy use, utility infrastructure, and clean-energy requirements for hyperscale facilities. Major projects tied to Amazon Web Services and the Homer City redevelopment continue driving huge labor demand across the trades. READ MORE.

Office-to-Residential Conversions Accelerating: Adaptive reuse continues gaining traction across Pennsylvania cities. A 120-year-old office tower in Downtown Pittsburgh is being converted into affordable housing in a $30 million redevelopment project. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 15, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

AI + Data Center Construction Boom Accelerating Across PA: The biggest trend in Pennsylvania construction right now continues to be the explosion of AI-related data center and energy infrastructure projects. The Homer City redevelopment project in Western PA — combining a massive gas-fired power plant with a large-scale data center campus — remains one of the most significant active developments in the state. At the same time, proposed data center campuses in Archbald, Lackawanna County, are triggering intense community opposition over environmental impacts, land use, and infrastructure strain. The debate is becoming a statewide issue as Pennsylvania positions itself as an AI infrastructure hub. READ MORE.

Pressure Builds Around End-of-Session Infrastructure Negotiations in Harrisburg: As the Pennsylvania legislative session enters its final stretch, negotiations continue around a major capital investment and infrastructure package. Industry groups are closely watching whether lawmakers finalize funding mechanisms that could affect public construction, transportation, and economic development projects statewide. READ MORE.

Construction Industry Watching Interest Rates Closely as Mortgage Rates Rise Again: New mortgage-rate data published this week shows borrowing costs moving back upward into the mid-6% range. Pennsylvania builders and developers continue monitoring financing conditions carefully because higher rates could slow portions of the residential and multifamily construction market during peak building season. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending February 13, 2026

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Pennsylvania Unveils Longterm Housing Action Plan: The biggest construction-related story this week is Gov. Josh Shapiro’s announcement of Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan — a multi-year strategy aimed at jumpstarting housing construction, rehabilitation, and affordability across the state. The plan calls for:

  • A $1 billion initiative to support homebuilding, infrastructure, and related projects.
  • Modernizing planning and zoning rules to cut red tape that slows construction.
  • Expanded renter protections and homebuyer support to increase housing access.
  • A goal of building hundreds of thousands of new housing units by 2035 to address the state’s housing shortage.

This housing plan initiative is intended to boost construction activity statewide — especially in the residential sector — and tackle long-standing affordability and supply bottlenecks that have constrained new build. READ MORE.

Local Data Center Rezoning Blocked – Impacts Construction Planning: In Montour County, local regulators voted to deny a rezoning request for a planned data center development near an existing energy plant — a decision that could reshape how technology-related construction projects proceed in the state.

  • The plan was tied to facilities that would support large tech infrastructure and AI-oriented construction.
  • Opposition from residents and officials over environmental and utility concerns played a key role in the rezoning denial.

While this isn’t traditional “building construction” like housing or commercial buildings, data center infrastructure is one of the fastest-growing segments of construction and can involve large-scale campuses with extensive planning, zoning, and utility requirements, so this decision is significant for the industry. READ MORE.

2026 Pennsylvania Construction Hike For Hope: The KCA is proud to announce it will once again partner with the Master Builders’ Association of Western PA to bring the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Construction Hike For Hope to Pennsylvania. As part of this effort, the KCA and MBA will jointly host the 2026 Pennsylvania Construction Hike For Hope on Saturday, May 16, with two locations across Pennsylvania:

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending January 23, 2026

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

The top construction stories this week in Pennsylvania:

Major Construction Policy & Workforce News: The Pennsylvania Senate held a hearing focused on legislation that would require local labor for public construction projects — a big deal for the building trades and workforce policy. READ MORE.

Data Center Growth & Debate: Statewide Debate Over Data Center Construction: As more AI-related data centers expand across Pennsylvania, residents and some lawmakers are pushing back, citing concerns about energy usage, cost spikes, and community impact — even as state leaders support development. READ MORE.

Building A Stronger Construction Workforce: Construction is a tough industry and KCA’s monthly seminar series tackles the real mental health facing our workers. The first seminar is scheduled for this upcoming Wednesday, January 28, noon. For details click: Building A Stronger Construction Workforce.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

KCA’s 2025 Year in Review

2025 was a standout year for the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) — one defined by consistent advocacy, deepened community impact, unwavering focus on safety, and steady reinforcement of its role as a leading voice for Pennsylvania’s commercial construction industry.

Under the leadership from the KCA Board of Directors and its staff, KCA continued to deliver on its core pillars: safety, education & training, labor relations, community service, and government relations. The association maintained its reputation for practical, people-centered initiatives while expanding its reach across the Commonwealth.

Key highlights that defined the year included:

  • Safety remained front and center — From weekly toolbox talks and ongoing initiatives to stocking active jobsites with naloxone through partnerships with the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). KCA played a key role in distributing life-saving overdose reversal medication, with over 400,000 doses provided statewide in the first half of 2025 alone. This built on KCA’s long-standing commitment to protecting workers both on the jobsite and in their communities.
  • Community engagement and giving back — Through programs like ACE Mentor Program, the KCA Scholarship Program and participation in other industry initiatives like neighborhood cleanups and toy drives, the association strengthened its “building better communities” ethos. Events and outreach emphasized workforce development, career pathways, and support for local projects that benefit Pennsylvania residents.
  • Education, events, and advocacy — KCA kept up a strong cadence of webinars, training sessions, and industry events, including collaborations in the area of mental health awareness for example. Weekly recaps and newsletters kept members informed on top Pennsylvania construction stories, labor updates, and policy developments. The year wrapped with festive holiday gatherings (including the notable AEC Holiday Event in mid-December) and a forward-looking tone celebrating the progress made.
  • Member growth and influence — As part of industry and business coalitions, from educational groups helping to build a strong workforce to business organizations uniting to form good public policy, KCA continued to advocate effectively for the industry, fostering strong government and stakeholder relationships while championing continuing education and project excellence.

In essence, 2025 was the year KCA solidified its foundation — not through dramatic overhauls, but through reliable execution, meaningful partnerships, and real-world impact that made construction safer, smarter, and more community-oriented across Pennsylvania.

The association heads into 2026 positioned stronger than ever, with the same positive, confident energy that has become its trademark: KCA Builds PA — and it built exceptionally well in 2025.

Here’s to carrying that momentum forward!

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!

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