Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month.
Smart Factory for Futuristic Planes
JetZero, an aerospace startup developing futuristic “all-wing” commercial and military aircraft, has broken ground on a massive smart factory on more than 600 acres in North Carolina. The 8 million square-foot facility represents a $4.7 billion investment and is expected to create 14,500 jobs over the next decade. North Carolina leaders hailed it as the largest economic development project in the state’s history based on job commitment. According to JetZero, the company’s innovative all-wing design will make its Z4 airplanes up to 50% more fuel efficient with bigger payloads and longer ranges.
Organization: JetZero
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
Type of project: New build
Size: 8 million square feet
Estimated cost: $4.7 billion
Status: Ground broken on June 15
Expected completion: N/A
Interesting tidbit: JetZero has called its Greensboro plant a “digital-first, AI-native smart factory.” The facility will be designed using advanced digital and AI native platforms developed in collaboration with Siemens and Deloitte. These platforms and tools allow engineers to build a complete digital twin of the factory before any concrete is poured—testing how machines, people, and materials will move through the building, and making changes on a screen rather than on a jobsite. That flexibility is rare in aerospace manufacturing and is slated to make the Greensboro facility the most efficient and adaptable plant of its kind anywhere in the world, according to JetZero.
Quote: CEO and Co-founder Tom O’Leary said, “It should come as no surprise that JetZero is breaking ground here in North Carolina—the ‘First in Flight’ state. North Carolina has a vision for its future as a global aerospace hub, and JetZero shares that vision.”
More details are available here.
HVAC Training Center
As the skilled trades industry faces a labor crisis, Daikin Applied is investing in the future of the HVAC workforce. The major HVAC system manufacturer has broken ground on a $30 million Solutions & Technical Institute in Plymouth, Minn. The facility will include nine classrooms and six breakout spaces across 64,000 square feet, with the ability to expand by an additional 40,000 square feet.
Organization: Daikin Applied
Location: Plymouth, Minn.
Type of project: New build
Size: 64,000 square feet
Estimated cost: $30 million
Status: Ground broken on June 18
Expected completion: 2027
Interesting tidbit: From high-efficiency cooling to data center applications, HVAC systems are becoming more advanced, and workforce capability is emerging as a critical differentiator. Recent industry reports point to a shortage of thousands of HVAC technicians by 2030, highlighting the need for expanded training and hands-on experience. Daikin’s institute will offer more than 50 fully functional HVAC units for real-world troubleshooting and system-level learning; up to 120 training pathways focused on advanced controls, diagnostics, system optimization, and sustainable technologies; and a state-of-the-art digital studio for remote learning globally.
Quote: Daikin COO Yu Nishiwaki said the institute “reflects our commitment to developing the next generation of technical, engineering, service, and sales talent while helping our customers succeed in an increasingly complex environment. We are investing in the people, knowledge, and capabilities that will power the future of our industry.”
More details are available here.
Massive Data Center in Michigan
The AI-fueled data center race continued in June, with companies like Amazon and Microsoft announcing major projects. Notably, tech giants Oracle and OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) joined developer Related Digital and asset manager Blackstone to celebrate progress on The Barn, the multibillion-dollar Stargate data center campus under construction in Saline Township, Mich. With a reported $16 billion price tag, the project is the single largest economic investment in Michigan’s history. All campus buildings on the 250-acre site are now underway, with the first of three 550,000-square-foot, single-story, LEED-certified data center buildings nearing completion.
Organizations: Oracle, OpenAI, Related Digital, and Blackstone
Location: Saline Township, Mich.
Type of project: New build
Size: 250-acre site
Estimated cost: Reportedly $16 billion
Status: Construction celebration held June 1
Expected completion: N/A
Interesting tidbit: Data centers increasingly face pushback from communities and legislators over the facilities’ high energy and water usage, among other concerns. During their celebration in Michigan, the partners highlighted the economic benefits and environmental initiatives of their data center project. For example, they announced $10 million to modernize and expand a community recreation center, which builds on $14 million in investments to local fire services and farmland preservation funds, as well as the creation of thousands of construction jobs. Furthermore, they noted the facilities will use a closed-loop, air-cooled system that limits water use to levels comparable to a standard office building. In accordance with Michigan law, the data center will pay for 100% of the electricity it uses during operations. The partners are also paying for an energy storage project to help boost local grid reliability.
Quote: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, “OpenAI is committed to doing it the right way: paying our own way on energy, protecting water supplies, and building in partnership with the communities that host us.”
More details are available here.
Honorable Mentions
- All-Mass-Timber Healthcare Project
- Tennessee Titans Cooling Towers
- Performance Center Restroom Makeover
- FDA Food Safety Lab
- Rapper 50 Cent’s G-Dome Entertainment Venue
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.