Major construction companies are actively entering the competition for AI data center contracts in the second half of 2026. With overall recovery in second-quarter performance, the actual contracts for data center projects are expected to determine the order backlog and non-residential growth for the latter half of the year.
According to the construction industry on August 3, major firms such as Samsung C&T, GS Construction, DL E&C, Daewoo Construction, and SK Eco Plant are expanding their business scope beyond data center construction to include site development, power and cooling systems, and operations.
Given the ongoing uncertainties in the housing market and sales, experts suggest that securing new orders in non-residential projects like data centers and nuclear power plants is essential for maintaining the recovery trend.
GS Construction is currently the center of attention in the market for the second half of the year. The GS Group plans to develop a 2.4GW AI data center campus in the Bukpyeong 2nd General Industrial Complex in Donghae City, Gangwon Province, with 1.2GW expected by 2028 and an additional 1.2GW by 2029. They have already secured a site of approximately 180,000 pyeong and can utilize nearby power facilities and water resources.
GS Construction and its subsidiary, GS E&C, are currently engaged in data center projects in Goyang, Paju, and Sejong. The industry anticipates that, including projects in Ilsan and Busan, they could secure an additional 120MW and around 1 trillion won in orders this semester. If the Donghae project is officially ordered, the scale of data center contracts for construction companies could increase to the gigawatt level.
However, the Donghae project has not yet been confirmed as an order for GS Construction. Due to its large scale, it must go through power supply planning, permits, and securing an operating company and investors before it can lead to a formal contract. The second half of the year will be a critical test to see if the group's investment plans can be converted into the construction company's order backlog.
Samsung C&T is developing data centers as a specialized technology product. They operate a dedicated organization that encompasses investment, business development, design, construction, and operations, having secured a 40MW global cloud center in Ansan for 400 billion won. They have also acquired next-generation cooling technologies, such as immersion cooling, to reduce heat from high-performance AI servers.
AI data centers consume more power and generate more heat per server than traditional data centers, making cooling and power stability crucial. Consequently, a construction company's competitiveness will likely depend on its ability to integrate initial design, power and mechanical systems, and cooling technologies rather than just construction performance.
DL E&C emphasizes its experience in external orders targeting global operators and specialized clients. They have completed data centers in Sangam and Gasan and are currently constructing a data center in Gimpo. Their subsidiary, DL Construction, has also secured a contract for the construction of the Bucheon Samjeong AI Hub Center. The company aims to diversify its portfolio by expanding orders for data centers and power plants this year.
Daewoo Construction has established a dedicated task force for data centers this year, expanding its scope from construction to development projects. They are participating as both an investor and contractor for the Pyeongdata Center in Jangseong, Jeollanam-do. The Jangseong center will have a power capacity of 26MW and will consist of six floors for the data center and two floors for operations. Daewoo Construction plans to enhance its capabilities in site acquisition, permitting, and operations management.
SK Eco Plant is gaining integrated construction experience through its ongoing Ulsan AI data center project, which includes power and cooling systems. They are responsible for the design and construction of key facilities, as well as the establishment of power, communication, and cooling systems. They are also applying technology that utilizes heat generated during fuel cell power generation for cooling water production in their data center projects.
A construction industry official stated, “The reason construction companies are focusing on data centers is that the project timelines are relatively short compared to housing, and large projects can lead to orders worth hundreds of billions to trillions of won. By participating in site development, equity investment, and operations, they can expect rental and operational revenue even after construction is completed.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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