{"id":35482,"date":"2026-05-20T18:30:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/construction-starts-power-on-up-9-in-april\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:30:33","slug":"construction-starts-power-on-up-9-in-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/construction-starts-power-on-up-9-in-april\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction Starts Power On, Up 9% in April"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/files\/membership-default-internal\/\" class=\"memberhide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/01\/20220718_175041000_iOS.jpg\" alt=\"-\"><\/a><br\/><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Construction Starts \u2013 April 2026\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2LBmjz5OtPo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW90900336 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW90900336 BCX0\">Broad-based Gains Signal Unexpected Strength <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BOSTON, MA \u2014 May 20, 2026 \u2014<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Total construction starts\u00a0rose\u00a09.0% in\u00a0April\u00a0to a seasonally adjusted\u00a0annual rate of\u00a0$1.33\u00a0trillion,\u00a0according to\u00a0<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/construction.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Dodge Construction\u00a0Network<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Nonresidential building starts grew by 18.6%, nonbuilding starts increased 7.0%, and residential starts fell 0.7% over the month. On a year-to-date basis, total construction starts were up 5.4% through April. Nonresidential starts were up 9.1%, nonbuilding starts improved by 12.3%, and residential starts were down 4.5% over the same period. For the 12 months ending April 2026, total construction starts were up 8.1% from the 12 months ending April 2025. Residential starts were down 4.4%, nonresidential starts were up 10.0% and nonbuilding was up 19.5%.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cApril\u2019s construction starts were robust with only three categories posting month over month losses,\u201d\u00a0stated\u00a0Eric Gaus, Chief Economist of Dodge Construction Network.\u00a0\u201cLarge\u00a0data centers and energy generation supported the growth, but 9 of the 15 categories saw\u00a0double\u00a0or triple\u00a0digit\u00a0growth.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nonresidential<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nonresidential building starts\u00a0improved 18.6% in\u00a0April\u00a0to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of\u00a0$550\u00a0billion. Commercial starts were\u00a0up\u00a041.4%, mostly driven by the\u00a046.1% m\/m\u00a0increase in\u00a0offices and data centers,\u00a0however all sectors experienced growth; parking garages (120.4% m\/m), warehouses (+25.0% m\/m),\u00a0hotels (+12.8% m\/m),\u00a0and\u00a0stores (+5.0% m\/m). Institutional starts\u00a0gained\u00a012.3% over the month,\u00a0with all sub-categories\u00a0experiencing growth; other institutional categories (+15.1% m\/m),\u00a0education (+13.2% m\/m),\u00a0and healthcare (+4.6%).\u00a0Manufacturing construction\u00a0gave up\u00a029.3% m\/m\u00a0after an astounding 251.4% growth in March. On a year-to-date basis through April, nonresidential starts are\u00a0up 9.1%. Commercial and industrial construction gained\u00a030.4%, while institutional starts are down 12.1% over the same period.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the 12 months ending\u00a0April\u00a02026, total nonresidential starts were up\u00a010.0% compared to the 12 months ending\u00a0April\u00a02025. Commercial starts were up\u00a025.1%, institutional starts decreased\u00a03.8%, and manufacturing starts were up\u00a020.9% over the same period.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in April <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">were the $5.0 billion Provident\/PowerHouse Prairie Ridge Data Center Phase 1 in Midlothian, TX, the $1.9 billion SK Hynix HBM Advanced Packaging &amp; R&amp;D Hub project in West Lafayette, IN, and the $1.3 million Stargate Data Center Campus project in Saline Township, MI.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nonbuilding<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nonbuilding\u00a0construction\u00a0starts\u00a0increased\u00a07.0% in\u00a0April\u00a0to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of\u00a0$394\u00a0billion.\u00a0Strong\u00a0double digit\u00a0gains in miscellaneous nonbuilding\u00a0(+18.1%\u00a0m\/m),\u00a0highways and bridges (+17.0% m\/m) and environmental public works (+16.3% m\/m) reversed\u00a0losses\u00a0from the previous month.\u00a0Electric power\/utilities segment fell 9.7%\u00a0but\u00a0levels\u00a0remain\u00a0bolstered by large natural gas facilities and large renewable projects.\u00a0On a year-to-date basis through\u00a0April, nonbuilding construction was up\u00a012.3% alongside the\u00a079.3% year-to-date growth in electric power\/utilities. The remaining public works sectors, however, are seeing deeper year-to-date declines.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the 12 months ending\u00a0April\u00a02026, total nonbuilding starts were up\u00a019.5%.\u00a0Environmental public works\u00a0fell\u00a0by\u00a02.2% compared to the 12 months ending\u00a0April\u00a02025.\u00a0Highway and bridge\u00a0starts\u00a0were\u00a0down\u00a00.9%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up\u00a035.6%\u00a0and\u00a0utility\/gas starts increased\u00a062.0% over the same period.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in\u00a0April<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0included\u00a0the\u00a0$3.8\u00a0billion\u00a0Bison Generation Station Natural Gas Power\u00a0Plant\u00a0\u00a0in\u00a0ND,\u00a0the\u00a0$3.3\u00a0billion\u00a0Cayuga Station Natural Gas Energy Replacement\u00a0in\u00a0Cayuga,\u00a0IN, and the\u00a0$1.0 billion\u00a0Tradepoint Atlantic Container Terminal\u00a0in\u00a0Edgemere,\u00a0MD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Residential<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Residential building starts\u00a0fell\u00a0by\u00a00.7% in\u00a0April\u00a0to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of\u00a0$383\u00a0billion. Single family starts\u00a0increased\u00a04.2%\u00a0m\/m,\u00a0and\u00a0multifamily starts\u00a0fell\u00a07.2%\u00a0m\/m.\u00a0On a year-to-date\u00a0basis, residential starts are down\u00a04.5%,\u00a0with single family starts\u00a0down\u00a010.9% and multifamily starts\u00a0up\u00a07.9%.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the 12 months ending\u00a0April\u00a02026, total residential starts fell\u00a04.4%. Single family starts fell\u00a015.0% compared to the 12 months ending\u00a0April\u00a02025, and multifamily starts increased\u00a017.4% over the same period.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The largest multifamily structures to break ground in\u00a0April\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">were the $850\u00a0million\u00a0Gowanus Wharf 175 3rd Street Mixed Use Development\u00a0in\u00a0Gowanus,\u00a0NY, the $354\u00a0million\u00a0Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community III (Expansion)\u00a0project\u00a0Asheville,\u00a0NC\u00a0and $303\u00a0million\u00a0Archer Towers Mixed Use Development-Garage (Phase 2)\u00a0project in\u00a0Jamaica, NY.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Regionally,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> total construction starts in\u00a0April\u00a0rose\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Midwest (+66.9% m\/m),\u00a0the Northeast (+19.9% m\/m),\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0South Atlantic (+9.3% m\/m).\u00a0Meanwhile,\u00a0the South Central (-14.5% m\/m), and the West (-8.6% m\/m) saw declines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27294\" src=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/montly-may26-chart-300x156.png\" alt=\"Montly May26 Chart\" width=\"631\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/montly-may26-chart-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/montly-may26-chart-1024x533.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/montly-may26-chart.png 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27295\" src=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12mo-may26-chart-300x156.png\" alt=\"12mo May26 Chart\" width=\"633\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12mo-may26-chart-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12mo-may26-chart-1024x533.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12mo-may26-chart.png 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/May26-starts-bar-chart-300x156.png\" alt=\"May26 Starts Bar Chart\" width=\"648\" height=\"337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/May26-starts-bar-chart-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/May26-starts-bar-chart-1024x533.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.construction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/May26-starts-bar-chart.png 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>###<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Dodge Construction Network<\/strong><br \/><span data-teams=\"true\"><span class=\"ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak\" dir=\"ltr\">Dodge Construction Network harnesses data, analytics, and industry connections to be the leading source of insights and opportunities in the commercial construction industry. 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