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    Analysis

    November 2, 2026

    SMU Community Chat: Data centers strong in uneven construction market, Simonson says

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    Construction has been an uneven market over the last year, but data centers have been a bright spot.

    Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), sat down with SMU Editor-in-Chief Michael Cowden last week for a Community Chat. In a far-ranging conversation, Simonson spoke on the current state of construction and wider issues in the economy. (For SMU Premium subscribers, watch the replay of the entire interview here.)

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

    Read more from Ethan Bernard

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