Gray Stands Out in ENR's "Top Starts" Projects Feature

The most recent list from ENR showcases Gray’s construction of a landmark $1.6 billion data center campus for Amazon Web Services in Canton, MS. The project—the largest private-sector investment in the state’s history—sits at No. 8 on the Top Starts list and is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

As a fully integrated design-builder behind some of the most complex facilities in the U.S., Gray has garnered deep experience delivering mission‑critical facilities that drive the data economy, leveraging experienced construction management and self-perform teams, precision systems integration and engineering, and aggressive scheduling and procurement to meet hyperscale demand.

Recently, ENR ranked Gray as the No. 15 contractor in the U.S. for data center construction.

“The growth of the data center market has been particularly impactful,” says Ben Burgett, vice president of Data Centers at Gray. “This market is seeing substantial growth and is expected to balloon over the next five years.”

At the Forefront for Advanced Tech Manufacturing

Gray is not only leading the charge in data centers, but high-tech industries such as solar panel manufacturing and semiconductor fabs as well. The company recently completed the design-build of a solar panel assembly plant in for Trina Solar in Wilmer, TX, and is currently executing the design-build of a chemical manufacturing facility for UBE Chemicals America in Waggaman, LA, which will produce co-solvents critical to the production of lithium-ion batteries.

Despite economic uncertainties stemming from tariffs and executive orders to roll back incentive-based legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act, Gray continues to deliver high-quality projects with a focus on building meaningful, trustworthy relationships.

“We’re taking a proactive approach by staying in constant contact with our suppliers and subcontractors,” says Burgett.

Gray combines rigorous engineering, lean construction methods, and proactive risk management to bring complex projects online faster and with greater cost certainty and operational uptime. As global investment in advanced manufacturing and data infrastructure surges—projected to more than double in value from 2022 to 2030—Gray stands at the forefront, reducing risk and improving execution through early engagement, proactive supply‑chain strategies, and integrated delivery from conceptual design and procurement through commissioning and handover.

Read the full ENR article to discover how Gray continues to set the pace in advanced industrial construction.

Want to learn more about how we serve high-tech markets? Check out our Data Center and Advanced Technology experience.