Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month.
Netflix Studios in Jersey
Lights, camera, action! Netflix and New Jersey officials recently held a groundbreaking ceremony at Fort Monmouth, marking the start of construction for the entertainment giant’s new state-of-the-art production facility. California-based Netflix plans to invest $1 billion to transform the 292-acre former U.S. Army installation into a premier East Coast production hub that will help fulfill customers’ binge-watching needs. The development will feature 12 cutting-edge sound stages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet, with additional areas dedicated to supporting film uses and community amenities.
Organization: Netflix
Location: Fort Monmouth, N.J.
Type of project: New build
Size: 292-acre site
Estimated cost: $1 billion
Status: Ground broken May 13
Expected completion: 2028
Interesting tidbit: In 2022, Netflix announced its plan to transform Fort Monmouth, a property that had been largely vacant for over a decade, into an economic engine that will create permanent production jobs and construction-related positions. Demolition is expected to take around 13 months, and the studio is projected to open in 2028. However, more approvals are required before construction can fully move forward. So, like the uncertain timing between seasons of beloved Netflix shows like “Stranger Things” or “Bridgerton,” it’s possible that the project could take (much?) longer than hoped. Stay tuned!
Quote: Gov. Phil Murphy said, “As the birthplace of the motion picture industry, New Jersey couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Netflix—a name synonymous with 21st-century entertainment—to the Garden State.”
More details are available here.
Green Cement Plant
As more companies, governments, and other organizations embrace sustainability, the call for green construction materials is getting louder. To help meet demand, Ozinga has broken ground on a low-carbon cement manufacturing facility in East Chicago, Ind. Equipped with one of North America’s largest vertical roller mills, the new plant will produce 1 million tons of cementitious materials annually.
Organization: Ozinga
Location: East Chicago, Ind.
Type of project: New build
Size: N/A
Estimated cost: N/A
Status: Ground broken June 10
Expected completion: 2026
Interesting tidbit: Concrete is the backbone of modern infrastructure essential to homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges. Yet traditional Portland cement, its core ingredient, accounts for nearly 7% of global CO₂ emissions. In 2024, the United States imported nearly 30 million tons of cement, leaving infrastructure projects vulnerable to supply chain instability and trade volatility. Ozinga said its new facility will address these challenges by producing low-carbon cements domestically, noting the plant will be strategically located with direct access to rail, road, and water to serve customers across North America.
Quote: Ozinga CEO Marty Ozinga said, “This facility is more than a plant. It’s a commitment to the future of American manufacturing, to sustainable building, and to strengthening American communities for generations to come.”
More details are available here.
Tech College Fire Training Center
When emergency strikes, first responders are life savers—literally—but their skills require rigorous training. Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Wash., is building a state-of-the-art Fire Service Training Center, which will prepare the next generation of first responders in the region and expand the school’s popular program that dates back to the 1960s. Converting a former commercial truck driving lot, the $42 million project includes a new 34,600-square-foot academic and fire training support facility and an 18,900-square-foot, five-story live-fire training tower.
Organization: Bates Technical College
Location: Tacoma, Wash.
Type of project: New build
Size: At least 53,500 square feet
Estimated cost: $42 million
Design-build team: Miller Hull, BNBuilders, and MW Studios
Status: Ground broken May 28
Expected completion: 2026
Interesting tidbit: Unique among technical colleges in the region, the live-fire structure will provide advanced, real-world training scenarios—including search-and-rescue mazes, entanglement drills, and firefighter challenges—to prepare students for both residential and commercial emergencies. In line with the college’s Sustainability Action Plan, the facility is on track to become Bates Tech’s first all-electric building and achieve LEED Gold certification.
Quote: Bates Tech President Dr. Lin Zhou said, “We are proud to provide our students with a learning environment that reflects the realities of the field and meets the rigorous standards of today’s fire service.”
More details are available here.
Replacement Hospital
Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital has begun what’s been hailed as a “once-in-a-generation” project to replace the healthcare facility in Billings, Mont. Estimated to cost nearly $1 billion, the new 14-floor, 737,000-square-foot facility will be located just east of the current hospital and built to meet future community needs. According to Intermountain Health, the decision to replace the current facility was made to address aging infrastructure and to create a modern and efficient hospital.
Organization: Intermountain Health
Location: Billings, Mont.
Type of project: New build
Size: 737,000 square feet
Estimated cost: Nearly $1 billion
Status: Ground broken June 18
Expected completion: 2029
Interesting tidbit: The new hospital will have 243 patient beds with space for expansion. All rooms will have the ability to be converted into an ICU level of care, allowing the hospital to respond to changing demands and a potential future pandemic. The surgical space will have pre-op, OR, and recovery areas all in the same location for more efficient care. The entire first floor has been dedicated as public space for patients and visitors, and all floors will feature decentralized nursing stations, allowing caregivers to be closer to their patients.
Quote: Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health, said, “The new St. Vincent Regional Hospital will enhance the care experience of our patients, families, and caregivers, as it will be the most staff-efficient facility in the region.”
More details are available here.
Honorable Mentions
- A’s Las Vegas Ballpark
- Shaquille O’Neal Youth Complex
- $60B Texas Instruments Investment
- Juneteenth Ceremony for Historic Black Church
- Times Square Office Conversion
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.