The Top Five Stories in Construction: Ford, AECOM, Turner

Ford Converts EV Site for Battery Storage Production

Ford has converted an idle electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in Kentucky into a production facility for battery energy storage systems.

The company launched Ford Energy as a wholly owned subsidiary to manufacture the systems. The facility in Glendale will deploy at least 20 GWh each year, with first customer deliveries planned for 2027.

"Ford Energy allows us to maximise the value of our battery manufacturing capabilities," says Lisa Drake, President of Ford Energy.

"We're building a business focused first on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large customers while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage solutions."

AECOM Tops CA$270m DCC Source List with Sustainable Offer

AECOM has secured the top position on Defence Construction Canada's National Architecture & Engineering Source List, a multi-year programme worth up to CA$270m (US$196m) that will support the delivery of critical infrastructure for the Department of National Defence across the country.

Canada is under pressure from NATO to hit the 2% GDP defence spending target while simultaneously meeting net zero commitments. Defence Construction Canada joined Canada's Net-Zero Challenge in April 2025, committing to hit net zero emissions by 2050 and embedding sustainability requirements directly into its infrastructure procurement.

Richard Barrett, Chief Executive of AECOM's Canada region, says: "Across Canada, our local teams take deep pride in supporting the people and infrastructure that safeguard the nation."

STV-Turner JV Awarded US$10bn NYC Bus Terminal Contract

A joint venture between Turner Construction and STV has been appointed construction manager for New York City’s US$10bn Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement project.

Turner Construction, which earlier this year launched a new subsidiary focused on equipment rental and site services, says the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey selected the New York-based construction giants to focus on the “safety, stakeholder coordination and schedule optimisation for Phase 1 of the programme.”   

The initial phase includes the construction of an interim 900,000 square-foot seven-level bus terminal and ramp infrastructure, which will facilitate the transport of more than 200,000 daily commuters, allowing the full terminal replacement to get underway. 

UNEP: Construction Sector Stalls on Decarbonisation

The building industry falls short of net zero, as emissions hit a record 9.9 Gt in 2024, leaving a 49.3-point gap to the 2050 target despite efficiency gains. The stagnation is due to a 1% rise in operational emissions, which reached a record 9.9 gigatonnes of CO₂ in 2024. 

Achieving net zero goals requires a 56% reduction in operational emissions by 2030. 

Fabienne Robert, Director of the Sustainable Construction Observatory and International External Relations at Saint-Gobain, says: "The question is not which issue should be prioritised, but how to avoid solving one challenge while creating pressure somewhere else. Perhaps part of the challenge now is to better connect the different forms of value that sustainable construction already creates.”

Top 10: Sustainable Construction Projects

In this week's Top 10, we explore some of the world's most sustainable construction projects including Earthships, Masdar City, One Central Park and more

The built environment generates nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, placing a massive responsibility on the construction industry to innovate. In response, forward-thinking architects and engineers are shifting from traditional methods to pioneering, eco-conscious design.

The world’s top 10 sustainable construction projects represent a revolution in modern architecture, proving that structural ambition can coexist with environmental stewardship.