KEY POINTS
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ConstructConnect Chief Economist Michael Guckes reported that through August 2025, Nonresidential Construction starts fell to $57.7 billion, the lowest level since February.
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Despite the dip, year-to-date Nonresidential spending is up nearly 13%, driven by Industrial and Commercial projects.
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Data centers are setting records, with 2025 construction starts on pace to surpass $46 billion, up 55% year-over-year.
August 2025 marked a sharp slowdown in nonresidential construction starts. ConstructConnect Chief Economist Michael Guckes reported $57.7 billion in projects through the end of August, marking the lowest monthly total since February and down $23.5 billion from July.
The decline follows a record-breaking surge, when three consecutive months of activity worth $244 billion lifted year-to-date results to nearly 13% above 2024 levels, Guckes reported in the September Construction Economy Snapshot.
While August fell below recent highs, nonresidential building continues to drive growth with an 18.1% year-to-date increase. Civil construction, however, eased back to 5.4% growth, down from nearly 12% in March.
Data centers are setting records, with 2025 construction starts on pace to surpass $46 billion, up 55% year-over-year.
With these shifts setting the backdrop, August’s Top 10 Project Starts showcase the projects making the biggest impact by millions of dollars.
ConstructConnect
Top 10 Project Starts through August 2025
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ConstructConnect Top 10 Project Starts chart from the September 2025 Construction Economy Snapshot. A square footage measure does not apply to alteration, some forms of industrial (e.g., petrochemical), and most engineering/civil work. Image: ConstructConnect
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Read the Construction Economy Snapshot for more details on construction labor, trends, and regional analysis.
About ConstructConnect
At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information that construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings—including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software—help our clients find, bid on, and win more projects.
ConstructConnect operates as a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.
For more information, visit constructconnect.com.
