5 Construction Projects You Wish You Were Working on in 2021 (Part 1)

Like many other industries, construction has experienced a bumpy ride in 2020-21. Uncertainties from COVID-19 and political shifts led to project delays and other challenges for contractors in the U.S. and across the globe. Nonetheless, numerous notable projects have powered forward and maintained optimism in the industry. Here is a sampling of active projects representing recent landmark wins for contractors.

Aztec Stadium, San Diego, CA

Image credit: San Diego State University

• Project cost: $310 million
• Description: 35,000-seat stadium
• Estimated completion date: 2022
• Owner: San Diego State University
• Design-build contractor: Clark Construction
• Architect: Gensler
• Key subcontractors: Undisclosed

When Clark Construction broke ground on Aztec Stadium in 2020, it marked a key milestone in a massive redevelopment at San Diego State University. The 35,000-seat stadium, designed to support football, soccer, concerts, and other events, is the main cog in the school’s 160-acre Mission Valley development, which includes 1.6 million square feet of innovation and research space, 4,600 housing units and more than 80 acres of parks and open space.

Clark has driven more than 2,000 subsurface columns ranging from 2 to 3 feet in diameter and extending up to 36 feet long to support the stadium structure. The new facility features spacious landscaped concourses and social decks with views of the field, and is being designed to meet a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard. The project continues a longstanding partnership between Clark and the school that extends back 15 years. The company also built Petco Park, home to the San Diego Padres.

Edwards & Sanborn Solar and Energy Storage Project, Kern County, CA

Image credit: Kern County, Calif.

• Project cost: $1.1 billion
• Description: Solar and battery energy storage project
• Estimated completion date: 2022
• Owner: Terra-Gen
• Engineering, procurement, and construction contractor: Mortenson
• Key subcontractors: Trimark Associates, Inc. (SCADA)

Renewable energy developer and operator Terra-Gen announced an agreement with Minneapolis-based Mortenson in December 2020 to proceed on the Edwards & Sanborn solar and energy storage project located near Mojave, Calif. The project includes 1,118 MW of solar and 2,165 MWh of energy storage, making it the largest single solar and battery energy storage project to reach this milestone.

Located near several operating wind and solar projects, the project includes more than 2.5 million solar modules that will produce enough energy to power 260,000 homes in California. Energy will be stored in more than 110,000 lithium-ion battery modules. At peak construction, more than 700 people will be employed on-site at the project. The project is Mortenson’s 78th solar project and 11th energy storage project.

In addition to maintaining an active oil and gas presence, Kern County has a bevy of renewable energy projects in the works. More than 19 commercial solar projects (20 MW or less) are in the permitting process, and two utility-scale solar projects (200+ MW) in the approval pipeline with the California Energy Commission. More than 5,000 wind turbines are located in the Tehachapi-Mojave wind corridor, producing 1.3 million MW each year. Wind energy is set to expand with the completion of the Wind Hub Substation and 500-KV transmission line being constructed by Southern California Edison.

Neuroscience Building, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Image credit: Washington University

• Project cost: $616 million
• Description: 609,000 square-foot building
• Estimated completion date: 2023
• Owner: Washington University School of Medicine
• Construction manager: McCarthy Building Companies
• Key subcontractors: Undisclosed

This 11-story building is the largest in the medical school’s history, and will encompass nearly a city block in the 200-acre Cortex Innovation Community. Designed by architects Perkins+Will and CannonDesign, the project will include enough steel to stretch 2,125 miles, enough drywall to cover 31 football fields and enough concrete to fill 6,500 truckloads.

The project is on track to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification due to energy-efficient mechanical systems, LED light fixtures and sustainable landscaping on the building’s rooftop terrace. In addition to the main building, the project includes an 1,839-space parking garage, a pedestrian link to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital garage and a separate utility plant. The parking garage is slated to receive Parksmart certification, a rating system recognizing sustainable mobility through smarter parking design and operation.

The school is working with design team members and local subcontractors to establish a diversified, local workforce. Several of the companies involved in the project are participating in an Entrepreneur Forum led by the school and McCarthy.

LAX Airport Metro Connector, Los Angeles, CA

Image credit: Los Angeles county Metropoolitan Transportation Authority

• Project cost: $478 million
• Description: Transit interchange
• Estimated completion date: 2023
• Owner: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• General contractor: Tutor Perini
• Key subcontractors: Undisclosed

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) in March named Tutor Perini as the low bidder for a contract to build a new transport interchange as part of the LAX Airport Metro Connector project.

The contract covers the construction of a new multimodal interchange that will connect the new LAX Automated People Mover with the existing Line C (Redondo Beach – Norwalk) and the under-construction Line K (Crenshaw – LAX) light rail lines, as well as several bus routes. Work is expected to begin in late 2021 and be completed in 2025.

Work on the six-station elevated LAX Automated People Mover began in 2019, with the line currently anticipated to be operational in 2023. The Fluor-led Linxs joint venture is delivering the project under a $2.7-billion design, build, finance, operate contract awarded by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) in 2018.

Work on Line K began in 2014 and is being carried out by a consortium of Walsh, Shea, HNTB, Comstock and ARUP (The Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors). The line is expected to open later this year.

Marcy to New Scotland Electric Transmission Upgrade, Marcy, NY

Image credit: LS Power

• Project cost: $750 million
• Description: 100 miles of transmission line and two substations
• Estimated completion date: 2023
• Owner: New York Independent System Operator
• General contractor: LS Power / MYR Group
• Key subcontractors: Undisclosed

New York Independent System Operator selected LS Power LLC to oversee New York’s largest competitive transmission project to date. The project includes nearly 100 miles of double circuit 345-kV transmission line and two new gas insulated substations. The project will support upstate renewable resources, replace aging infrastructure within existing electric transmission corridors and relieve congestion on the Central East interface.

LS Power is partnered with the New York Power Authority on the project, which will be responsible for operations and maintenance. MYR Group Inc., a holding company of specialty contractors serving the electrical infrastructure market in North America, will provide procurement and construction services in a contract valued at more than $250 million.

We hoped you enjoyed this coverage. Stay tuned as we'll showcase more great projects in 2021. Also, if you're curious to see how Fieldwire helps projects like these, view our Customer Stories page or try Fieldwire directly below.