2024 Construction Outlook: Infrastructure Funding Fuels Demand for Billion-dollar Projects

Leading North American executive offers insight on top growing construction sectors in 2024

DENVER, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Government funding, reshoring manufacturing and a boost in tourism are converging to create a demand for the construction of megaprojects, landmark builds that exceed $1 billion in budget. In his annual industry outlook, Deron Brown, president and chief operating officer for Denver-based PCL Construction, offers an analysis of the economic and legislative trends poised to have the biggest influence on U.S. construction in 2024.

"Over the past year we saw landmark legislation unlock substantial funding for critical projects aimed at modernizing our nation's airports and enhancing our overall climate resilience," Brown says in the report. "Manufacturers are urgently moving to reshore operations to circumvent future supply chain disruptions. While a recession seemed all but certain in 2023, the country may have pulled off a 'soft landing' after all – boosting consumer spending and instilling confidence in entertainment developers."

In the report, Brown says these five construction sectors could drive the growth in megaprojects in 2024:

The infusion of $25 billion of federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act resulted in a surge in aviation projects in 2023. At the same time, global airport travel is expected to reach 9.4 billion travelers in 2024, finally exceeding pre-pandemic levels. To meet the demand, airports are spending billions to increase their capacity to help guests reach their destinations efficiently and safely. Airports will continue to invest billions into new terminals and enhancements such as consolidated rental car facilities (CONRAC), while also modernizing their technology and guest experience.

Investment in clean infrastructure continues to grow, with energy generated through solar panels, windfarms and other carbon-neutral methods expected to overtake coal-produced power as the world's top source of energy by 2025. Government funding is helping to accelerate the transition – and build the demand for new solar field projects. PCL Construction is on the forefront of this transition, having secured over $1 billion in new solar projects in 2023, with plans to expand its workforce by 25% to meet the growing demand for renewable energy construction over the next year.

 A new urgency to re-shore operations has resulted in manufacturing construction starts skyrocketing 156% over 2019 levels, according to data analysis from Construction Dive. The $39 billion in funding for manufacturing from the CHIPS Act is far from drying up, and – coupled with the Infrastructure and Reinvestment Act – creates a perfect storm of U.S. smart manufacturing investment. With continued green energy investment in solar photovoltaic panel plants, electric vehicle and battery plants, the U.S. is on track to becoming the global leader in advanced manufacturing in the next 5-10 years.

Despite economic uncertainty, Americans have consistently increased their spending on entertainment and travel. As a result, developers are continuing to invest in ambitious entertainment projects, with a new focus on geographic accessibility: Oklahoma and Tennessee will soon host two new amusement parks, serving as a drivable entertainment hub for the surrounding states. As park owners look to build new attractions in 2024, they're keeping capacity front and center, creating a chain reaction across the tourism industry. With theme parks designed to welcome more guests than ever, the demand for the construction of surrounding hotels and restaurants is also growing. 

The demand for sports stadiums or renovation projects is growing at a faster rate than even before the pandemic. As teams raise ticket prices to help cover the cost of growing pro-athlete salaries, they're also looking to construct stadiums with state-of-the-art amenities that justify the price of admission. Over the past year, NFL teams announced billions of dollars worth of investment into new stadiums, often securing hundreds of acres to build anchored entertainment districts around the facility. The goal is to turn a few hours at the stadium into a day-long destination for fans. These complex projects will shape the future of entertainment construction in 2024 and beyond.

The continued, significant investments into our country's infrastructure and entertainment markets underscores the confidence of the U.S. government and developers in the resiliency of the construction industry. As complex megaprojects become the norm in construction, 2024 will provide immense opportunity for contractors.

For more information, view the full 2024 U.S. Construction Outlook on PCL.com.  

PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $6 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company's 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL's leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.

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SOURCE PCL Construction