Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month.
White House Makeover
There’s no denying that President Donald Trump has a certain style. The billionaire businessman-turned TV star-turned politician is famously associated with opulent gold and marble décor at his properties. Now that he’s back at the White House for his second term, Trump has been working to give the national landmark a makeover with the same type of personal touches—e.g., adding gold all over the Oval Office. Most recently, the president revealed plans to build a new, massive ballroom off the East Wing. However, like his previous decision to pave over the White House’s iconic Rose Garden, this latest project has raised concerns about preserving history.
Organization: White House/Trump administration
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of project: New build
Size: 90,000 square feet
Estimated cost: $200 million
Design-build team: McCrery Architects, Clark Construction, and AECOM
Status: Announced July 31
Expected completion: “Long before” Trump’s term ends
Interesting tidbit: According to the announcement, the White House is currently unable to host major functions without having to install a “large and unsightly tent” about 100 yards away from the main building entrance for overflow guests. Separated from the main building, the 90,000-square-foot ballroom will have a seated capacity of 650 people and replace the East Room, which has a 200-person seated capacity. The announcement said President Trump and other private donors will cover the project’s $200 million price tag.
Quote: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said, “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The president and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future administrations and generations of Americans to come.”
More details are available here.
Teacher Training School
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) has broken ground on a new Education Building, a nearly 190,000-square-foot project on the school’s main campus to help train the next generation of teachers. The multiuse facility will serve as the new home of the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education and include 24 classrooms, 12 conference rooms, and 80 private offices, among other spaces.
Organization: Northeastern Illinois University
Location: Chicago
Type of project: New build
Size: 189,673 square feet
Estimated cost: $125.4 million
Design team: SmithGroup
Status: Ground broken Aug. 18
Expected completion: 2027
Interesting tidbit: The project continues a long and rich educational tradition at NEIU; the university was founded in 1867 as the Cook County Normal School, the county’s first teacher training institution. Among its many features, the building will include a second-floor roof deck with vegetation and seating, along with a bird-safe design with fritted glass and window film. The university will also seek LEED Silver green building certification for the project when complete.
Quote: University President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan said, “With a strong legacy of preparing educators for leadership and service, NEIU has long anticipated this milestone. The new Education Building reflects our commitment to modernization and will benefit the entire university community.”
More details are available here.
Hyundai’s Multibillion-Dollar U.S. Boost
Ranging from the pharmaceutical to tech industries, some big-name companies have been declaring major U.S. investments, signaling a potential resurgence in domestic manufacturing as companies aim to avoid potential tariffs. In late August, for example, South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group announced it is doubling down on its U.S. operations by investing $26 billion between now and 2028. Dedicated to advancing the group’s strategic initiatives in automotive, steel, and robotics, this new commitment represents an additional $5 billion investment on a $21 billion allocation announced in March.
Organization: Hyundai Motor Group
Location: Across the U.S.
Type of project: New build
Size: N/A
Estimated cost: $26 billion
Status: Announced Aug. 25
Expected completion: 2028
Interesting tidbit: The commitment is expected to create around 25,000 direct jobs. Some key highlights of the investment include building a new steel mill in Louisiana and expanding U.S. auto production capacity for the group’s Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia brands. Notably, the group will also establish a state-of-the-art robotics facility with an annual capacity of 30,000 units, serving as a U.S. hub for design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment. Other high-tech focuses include artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving.
Quote: In a LinkedIn post, Hyundai Motor Co. President & CEO José Muñoz wrote, “These strategic investments are helping to prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities today, while creating a meaningful economic impact for communities across America and Korea.”
More details are available here.
Toyota Childcare Centers
In other automaker news, Toyota is taking bold steps to support working parents as the company adds four all-new childcare centers across its manufacturing footprint. New centers will serve parents at Toyota plants in North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia, building upon two existing childcare facilities at the company’s Kentucky and Indiana plants. Two of the new centers will open this year, taking care of hundreds of children, and the remaining centers will open in 2026 and 2027.
Organization: Toyota
Location: Four U.S. plants
Type of project: New build
Size: N/A
Estimated cost: N/A
Status: Announced Aug. 12
Expected completion: 2027
Interesting tidbit: Each of the new childcare centers is being developed in collaboration with third-party, high-quality childcare providers and will align with plant production schedules, helping to ensure that team members can balance work and family responsibilities. All centers will introduce an age-based curriculum for children aged six weeks to five years, promoting learning through motor development, as well as physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth. They will be equipped with a commercial kitchen, STEM room, movement matters space, and an outdoor playground.
Quote: Denita Neville, vice president of Toyota’s corporate shared services, said, “Offering childcare motivates and empowers our team members, makes our industry more inclusive, and helps our smallest learners of today become our biggest leaders of tomorrow.”
More details are available here.
Honorable Mentions
- $1.3B O’Hare Airport Expansion
- Underwater Astronaut Tank
- Nashville Transit Loop from Elon Musk’s Boring Co.
- Area’s First Emergency Department
- Nuclear Plant for Google Data Centers
Do you have a major project announcement you’d like considered for the “Under Construction” series? Please contact Editor Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.