This article is the first in a three-part series exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the engineering and construction industry. AI-related investment in data centers and related infrastructure is predicted to be one of the most critical priorities of the next decade.
AI-driven infrastructure demand is reshaping data center construction
Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming software. It’s transforming skylines, power grids, industrial corridors, and the physical backbone of the global economy. For engineering and construction (E&C) firms, AI’s explosive rise represents the most significant infrastructure opportunity in a generation; one that will reshape what gets built, how it gets built, and who captures the value across the data center construction market.
At the World Economic Forum1 in Switzerland, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang described AI as the foundation of “the largest infrastructure buildout in human history.” His projection is staggering: $85 trillion in global AI‑related infrastructure investment over the next 15 years, spanning hyperscale data centers, chip fabs, energy systems, and the emerging category of “AI factories.”
But the most immediate wave is already underway. According to McKinsey2, nearly $7 trillion will be invested in data center facilities alone by 2030, with roughly 40% of that spend occurring in the United States. This surge in data center infrastructure development is only one pillar of the broader AI infrastructure boom. It is unfolding in parallel with record investment in power generation, transmission, renewable energy, industrial onshoring, and advanced manufacturing; all domains where E&C firms are indispensable.
This is not a moment of incremental growth. It is a multi‑decade super cycle reshaping data center construction and energy infrastructure.
AI-driven demand is accelerating data center construction and energy infrastructure
AI’s voracious appetite for computing power is rewriting the energy and infrastructure map of the U.S., creating unprecedented pressure on both data center construction and the supporting power ecosystem.
Power demand is surging for the first time in decades.
After years of flat consumption, U.S. electricity demand is rising sharply and is projected to grow 25% by 20303. AI workloads, hyperscale data centers, and industrial electrification are the primary drivers.
Meeting this demand requires:
- 80 GW of new generation capacity every year (equivalent to building ~80 large power plants annually)
- Massive expansion of high‑voltage transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks
- Accelerated permitting, engineering, and construction capacity to keep pace
Transmission investment alone is expected to reach $230B annually by 2027, up from $174B in 20244. This highlights the urgent need to connect new data center loads to reliable power sources.
Data center construction is becoming one of the hottest markets in the country
Private investment in U.S. data centers has reached an annualized $41B, rivaling what state and local governments spend on transportation infrastructure each year.
The scale is extraordinary:
- One in seven U.S. contractors is now working on data center projects
- Data centers still represent around just two percent of total construction spending
- A single AI mega‑campus can require thousands of workers, billions in capital, and more than five GW of dedicated power
Tech giants are even financing their own power plants to secure capacity, which blurs the lines between traditional building, energy, and industrial construction.
For E&C firms with the right capabilities, this is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity.
Why the data center construction boom is transforming E&C firm performance
Backlogs and margins are swelling across the sector, particularly among firms involved in data center construction and large-scale energy infrastructure.
Many large E&C firms already report three to four years of backlog, with specialty contractors booked even further out. Critical equipment, such as large gas turbines, is sold out five years in advance.
This supply‑demand imbalance gives firms the rare ability to:
- Be selective about the projects they pursue
- Command stronger margins
- Secure long‑term programmatic work rather than one‑off engagements
- Build strategic partnerships with hyperscalers, utilities, and manufacturers
In the context of accelerating data center construction projects, this dynamic shifts negotiating power toward capable contractors. Owners seeking to deliver hyperscale campuses and complex infrastructure programs are prioritizing partners with proven delivery models, strong balance sheets, and integrated project capabilities. As a result, firms that can consistently execute high-density, power-intensive builds are not only protecting margins, but strengthening long-term positioning within the broader data center construction market.
Beyond short-term financial gains, this cycle is enabling leading E&C firms to deepen relationships with technology companies, utilities, and industrial clients investing heavily in data center infrastructure development. These multi-year programs create recurring revenue opportunities and more predictable growth pipelines compared to traditional single-project engagements.
Winning in the data center construction ecosystem
Owners are no longer looking for traditional builders. In the current data center construction market, they are seeking long-term partners capable of delivering integrated, high-complexity infrastructure programs at scale.
To compete effectively, firms must demonstrate the ability to execute:
- Complex, high-density data center construction projects
- Grid expansions and substation upgrades to support hyperscale facilities
- Renewable energy farms and battery storage systems tied to new campus developments
- Natural gas plants and pipelines for 24/7 power reliability
- Telecom and fiber networks required for high-capacity data transmission
- Advanced manufacturing facilities, including semiconductor fabs, EV plants, and robotics factories
This is not a single vertical market. It is a tightly connected ecosystem of megaprojects spanning energy, digital infrastructure, and industrial construction. Firms that position themselves as AI infrastructure enablers, rather than standalone contractors, are better positioned to secure multi-phase programs within the broader data center construction and infrastructure landscape.
Where the biggest opportunities are emerging
1. Energy and power delivery
The grid is becoming a new bottleneck. Firms with expertise in these areas will be at the center of the next decade of growth:
- Transmission & distribution
- Substation engineering
- Gas infrastructure
- Utility‑scale renewables
- Battery storage
2. Data centers and digital infrastructure
Hyperscalers are racing to build AI‑ready campuses. Opportunities include:
- Greenfield mega‑campuses
- Modular and prefabricated builds
- Cooling and mechanical systems
- Dedicated power generation
- Fiber and telecom networks
3. Manufacturing and onshoring
AI, automation, and geopolitics are driving a renaissance in U.S. manufacturing. E&C firms are in demand for building:
- Semiconductor fabs
- EV and battery plants
- Robotics and automation facilities
- Advanced materials and biotech plants
These projects resemble classic EPC megaprojects, which are complex, capital‑intensive, and schedule‑critical.
A once-in-a-generation opportunity in data center construction
The convergence of AI, energy transition, and industrial reinvestment is creating a historic opportunity for E&C firms. The firms that modernize their capabilities, strengthen their digital backbone, and position themselves as strategic partners, and not just contractors, will shape the next era of global infrastructure.
This is the moment to:
- Expand into high‑growth sectors
- Build long‑term client programs
- Invest in digital tools, AI, and workforce development
- Strengthen supply chain resilience
- Differentiate through speed, predictability, and integrated delivery
The AI infrastructure boom is not a trend. It is the new foundation of the global economy.
What comes next in data center construction
This article is the first in a three‑part series exploring how AI is reshaping engineering and construction. In the next installments, we’ll examine:
Data center construction challenges: Balancing opportunity in the era of AI
Building smart: Five key strategies to thrive in the AI infrastructure boom
The E&C landscape is shifting fast. With deep experience in complex engineering and field‑based operations, Alithya can help you unlock real value from AI, safely and efficiently. Connect with us to explore what’s possible.
References
- https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/conversation-with-jensen-huang-president-and-ceo-of-nvidia/
- https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/the-cost-of-compute-a-7-trillion-dollar-race-to-scale-data-centers
- https://www.icf.com/insights/energy/electricity-demand-expected-to-grow
- https://bizfocushub.com/pro-home/according-to-mizuho-the-long-term-winners-in-the-u-s-power-sector-will-be-those-that-benefit-from-ai-technology