Site Prep Contractors NAICS 238910

Mar 18, 2026 - Data Centers Outbid Residential Developments

• The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is fueling a data-center construction boom that significantly impacts the commercial real estate and housing industries, according to The Wall Street Journal. Tech giants are outbidding residential developers for vacant land, with some parcels selling for over $3 million per acre. This shift has transformed the commercial landscape, as developers find that server farms offer higher profit margins than traditional housing projects. In Northern Virginia, data centers accounted for up to 30% of land development in recent years, reducing the available inventory of new homes. Furthermore, the scale of these projects disrupts the broader construction sector by intensifying competition for essential labor and materials.
• Bedrock Robotics, a San Francisco start-up developing autonomous systems for excavators and other heavy construction equipment, has raised $270 million in new funding, valuing the company at $1.75 billion, according to The New York Times. The technology is designed to automate earthmoving and site preparation tasks while working alongside human operators, thereby increasing efficiency, safety, and productivity on construction sites. The approach comes as the construction industry faces persistent labor shortages, with Associated Builders & Contractors estimating the sector will need 349,000 additional workers in 2026 and 456,000 in 2027 to meet demand. Bedrock’s systems can be added to existing machines from manufacturers such as Caterpillar, allowing contractors to deploy the technology without replacing equipment. For the construction industry, the technology could help firms complete projects faster, extend equipment operating hours, and offset workforce shortages as demand for housing, factories, and data centers grows.

• The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Backlog Indicator rose 0.1 months to 8.1 months in February 2026 compared to January. Contractor backlogs are a key indicator of future demand for site prep services. The infrastructure backlog decreased by 1.1 months to 8.9 months in February, compared with the month before, but the heavy industrial backlog increased by 2.2 months to 8 months over the same period. February’s commercial and institutional construction backlog rose 0.2 months to 8.3 months compared to January. The ABC’s Construction Confidence Index for sales rose to 65.8 in February from 64.7 in January. A Confidence Index sales reading of 50 or more indicates most contractors are optimistic about sales. ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said that while February backlogs bounced back from January's four-year low, planning activity remained subdued. Data centers remain a bright spot, but Basu noted the war in Iran could erode backlogs if it pushes up construction material prices or increases borrowing costs and uncertainty.
• Single-family housing starts fell 2.8% month over month and 6.5% year over year in January. The Census Bureau report was delayed by the government shutdown late last year. The number of building permits issued for single-family, privately-owned housing units fell 0.9% month-over-month and dropped 11.6% year-over-year in January 2026. Homebuilders have faced several headwinds, including tariffs that have increased the cost of key inputs like lumber and cabinets, and labor shortages, according to Reuters. While interest rates have fallen in 2026, the US war with Iran is pushing oil prices higher, along with US Treasury yields. Mortgage rates could begin to rise again because they are tied to the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield.