Regional Business Leader - Infrastructure

JE Dunn-Alberici JV breaks ground on $3.2B Texas shipyard. The greenfield shipyard under construction for military contractor Saronic is the first in the U.S. since World War II, according to the JV. Published Oct. 12, 2026 The first greenfield shipyard to be built in the U.S. since World War II has broken ground. A joint venture of JE Dunn and Alberici began construction on the initial phases of military contractor Saronic's Port Alpha, an over $3.2 billion shipyard. There, the contractor will manufacture manned, autonomy-capable and autonomous ships, according to an Oct. 6 announcement from the JV. The shipyard, located at the Port of Brownsville in Texas, will spread across an initially 835-acre site, per the announcement. However, Saronic will have the option to expand the shipyard to nearly 4,400 acres, according to a Sept. 30 news release from the firm. The contract features three overlapping phases, according to the JV. The site preparation and infrastructure phases will include grading, ground improvement, drainage, access roads and utility infrastructure. Then, Phase 1 of shipyard development will begin with the initial assembly buildings, material-handling systems and supporting facilities. When complete, the site will encompass all manufacturing facilities, warehousing, permanent waterfront and vessel-launching infrastructure and employee support facilities. JE Dunn and Alberici, which are headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and St. Louis, respectively, worked with design partners Stantec and KPFF via the progressive design-build delivery method, per the announcement. Together, the team will overlap design, procurement and construction across all three stages, to progress the site's manufacturing capability as the development takes shape. Scott Shelby, vice president at JE Dunn and program leader for the JV, told Construction Dive via email that the approach allows the team to develop and evaluate the design, scope and cost before agreeing to the final construction price. "That collaboration also helps us determine which portions of the work can advance while other requirements are being resolved," Shelby said. "For example, we can plan early structural and waterfront packages while coordinating later equipment installation and supporting infrastructure." This isn't the JV's first time working with Saronic. Alberici announced in 2025 that the team won a $300 million expansion of Saronic's shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana. The contractors topped out the facility in August.

Stantec recognized for excellence in acquisitive growth. October 12, 2026 Strategic communications help strengthen Stantec's acquisition experience Stantec recently received the 2026 M&A Best Practices Award as part of Morrissey Goodale's Excellence in Acquisitive Growth Awards Series, honoring the firm's clear, consistent communication with employees, clients, and other key partners to help understand the acquisition and how it strengthens the organization. The award recognizes Stantec's communications practices following the close of acquisitions, including its coordinated, multi-channel and multi-stage approach designed to provide clear, consistent, and empathetic communications throughout the integration process. It underscores the important role communications plays in the firm's overall integration strategy and approach as newly acquired teams are welcomed into the organization. Through strategic acquisitions, Stantec has expanded its global capabilities by combining complementary expertise, geographic reach, and specialized services to serve clients across the infrastructure, buildings, water, energy, and environmental markets. Bjorn Morisbak, chief corporate development officer, and Kim Austin, vice president of Mergers & Acquisitions, accepted the award on Stantec's behalf at The M&A and Capitalization Symposium in Houston.

JE Dunn, Alberici break ground on historic $3.2B Port Alpha shipyard project. BROWNSVILLE, Texas - JE Dunn Construction and Alberici Constructors, Inc. celebrated the official groundbreaking last week for the initial phases of Port Alpha, Saronic Technologies' $3.2 billion-plus shipyard development at the Port of Brownsville to manufacture autonomous, autonomy capable, and manned vessels. Vice President JD Vance attended the event alongside other national, state, and local representatives, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Representing one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history, the historic Port Alpha investment is expected to create up to 10,000 direct jobs at full buildout. "Port Alpha represents a defining investment in the future of maritime manufacturing," said Gordon Lansford, president and CEO of JE Dunn Construction. "JE Dunn is proud to help build the infrastructure and advanced manufacturing capacity that will shape this next chapter. Together with Alberici, Saronic, and our project partners, we are bringing the expertise and collaboration needed to turn this bold vision into a world-class shipyard." The groundbreaking marks the start of work to establish the manufacturing facilities and critical infrastructure necessary to launch autonomous vessel production at the initial 835-acre site. The initial work encompasses three overlapping stages: * Site preparation and infrastructure: JE Dunn and Alberici will prepare the initial development areas through grading, ground improvement, drainage, access roads, and utility infrastructure. This foundational work supports both ongoing construction and the first manufacturing operations, with built-in provisions for future expansion. * Phase 1 shipyard development: Starting with the initial assembly buildings alongside the utilities, material-handling systems, and supporting facilities, JE Dunn and Alberici will take on the full development of the first phase of Port Alpha. At completion, the site will encompass all manufacturing facilities, warehousing, permanent waterfront and vessel-launching infrastructure, and the employee support facilities needed for a fully integrated, operating shipyard. "This first-of-its-kind shipyard is an opportunity to bring our team's extensive marine experience and self-perform expertise to critical infrastructure," said Jose Garcia, president of Alberici Constructors, Inc. "Our experienced craft and specialized equipment allow us to directly execute critical scopes including excavation, dredging, marine concrete and waterfront construction while maintaining greater control over safety, quality and schedule." In collaboration with design partners Stantec and KPFF, the JE Dunn | Alberici joint venture has developed this progressive design-build approach to intricately coordinate facility design and construction with Saronic's highly advanced production equipment and operating requirements. By intentionally overlapping design, procurement, and construction across all three stages, the project team ensures manufacturing capability is brought into service progressively as the larger, multi-billion-dollar development takes shape. "The groundbreaking at Port Alpha is a massive leap forward in our mission to scale the next generation of American shipbuilding," said Doug Lambert, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Saronic. "Expanding our existing partnership with JE Dunn and Alberici ensures we have the world-class expertise required to execute this development project. Their ability to seamlessly overlap design, procurement, and construction will allow us to bring our manufacturing capacity online with the urgency required to meet the demands of the American maritime industrial base." From JE Dunn, Oct. 7, 2026