Por The Coffee Shops™. 

Los centros de datos impulsan la siguiente etapa de crecimiento. 

Durante la Reunión de Verano 2026 de Metal Construction Association (MCA), Paul Trombitas, de FMI, presentó un panorama integral del mercado de la construcción, destacando un sólido crecimiento a largo plazo en diversos sectores, cambios en la demanda geográfica y nuevas dinámicas impulsadas por los centros de datos, la consolidación de la industria y las tecnologías emergentes. 

"Esto nos da una buena idea de cuál es la tendencia general del mercado", comentó Paul. "Nadie busca atender el 100% del mercado, pero sí ayuda a entender hacia dónde se dirige la industria." 

La construcción no residencial y la infraestructura impulsan el crecimiento 

El informe de perspectivas del segundo trimestre de 2026 de FMI muestra un cambio en el equilibrio entre los distintos segmentos de la construcción. Aunque históricamente el mercado residencial ha predominado, en los últimos años se ha observado una mayor paridad entre la construcción residencial y la no residencial. 

"Hoy los sectores residencial y no residencial representan volúmenes muy similares", explicó Paul. "Gran parte de esto se debe a la alta demanda generada por los centros de datos y la manufactura de alta tecnología, además de cierta desaceleración en el mercado residencial." 

De cara a 2030, FMI proyecta: 

• Crecimiento del sector residencial de entre 4% y 4.5%. 
• Crecimiento cercano al 6% en la construcción no residencial. 
• Crecimiento aproximado del 7.8% en proyectos de infraestructura y obras civiles. 

En conjunto, se espera que el mercado total de la construcción crezca alrededor del 5.8%, impulsado principalmente por la infraestructura necesaria para abastecer de energía a los centros de datos. 

"Gran parte de esa demanda energética está relacionada con la infraestructura que requieren los centros de datos," explicó Paul. "Ese es uno de los mayores desafíos en este momento." 

Los centros de datos están transformando el mercado 

Pocos sectores están influyendo tanto en la industria de la construcción como los centros de datos. FMI estima que este segmento continuará impulsando la demanda y la priorización de proyectos en todo Estados Unidos. 

"Los centros de datos están creciendo a una tasa cercana al 18% anual hasta 2030," señaló Paul, agregando que ahora incluso se analizan por separado del mercado tradicional de oficinas debido a su acelerado crecimiento. 

Su impacto va mucho más allá del volumen de proyectos. También están modificando la demanda de materiales, los tiempos de construcción y las regiones donde se concentra la inversión. 

"Lo único que les importa es incorporar la nueva tecnología cuanto antes," explicó Paul. "Están dispuestos a pagar más por cualquier solución que les permita hacerlo más rápido." 

Las ciudades secundarias cobran mayor relevancia 

Los cambios demográficos y la reubicación de empresas están impulsando el crecimiento de nuevos mercados. Ciudades como Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville y Tampa se están consolidando como importantes polos de desarrollo para la construcción. 

"Hay que seguir hacia donde se está moviendo la población," comentó Paul. "Ahí es exactamente donde está llegando la inversión." 

La llegada de nuevas empresas también está aumentando la demanda de vivienda, servicios de salud, educación e infraestructura comercial en estas regiones. 

Los sistemas metálicos para techos y muros mantienen una tendencia positiva 

La actualización de las proyecciones de FMI para techos metálicos anticipa un crecimiento constante hasta 2030, con un incremento aproximado del 16% en la superficie total instalada. El segmento no residencial será el principal motor de esta expansión. "Observamos un crecimiento más sólido en los sectores industrial, institucional y comercial," explicó Paul. 

Aunque el mercado residencial sigue representando la mayor parte del volumen de techos metálicos, el segmento no residencial continúa ganando participación. Asimismo, los proyectos de reemplazo siguen dominando el mercado, representando más del 90% de la actividad. 

En cuanto a los sistemas metálicos para muros, las perspectivas son aún más favorables. FMI proyecta un crecimiento superior al 30%, impulsado por el desarrollo industrial y una mayor adopción en aplicaciones residenciales. "Los sistemas metálicos para muros continúan mostrando un crecimiento muy favorable," afirmó Paul, destacando su durabilidad, sostenibilidad y flexibilidad de diseño como algunos de los principales factores que impulsan esta tendencia. 

Los precios de los materiales siguen siendo un desafío 

A pesar del panorama positivo, la volatilidad en los precios continúa generando incertidumbre, especialmente en materiales como el aluminio y otros sustratos. 

"Los precios del aluminio han aumentado considerablemente, lo que ha llevado a algunos proyectos a optar por materiales alternativos," comentó Paul. "Existe preocupación por que el metal resulte demasiado costoso frente a otras opciones." 

Esta presión sobre los costos podría influir en la selección de materiales, particularmente en proyectos con presupuestos más ajustados. 

La consolidación de la industria continúa acelerándose 

Otro de los temas centrales fue la consolidación dentro de la cadena de suministro. Las recientes adquisiciones entre grandes distribuidores han transformado significativamente el panorama competitivo. 

"Es casi una carrera para ver quién logra adquirir más distribuidores y de mayor tamaño," señaló Paul. 

Al mismo tiempo, siguen surgiendo nuevos participantes y empresas más pequeñas, ampliando la diferencia entre las grandes compañías consolidadas y los nuevos competidores. 

"Las empresas de tamaño medio están en una posición muy particular," explicó. "Están buscando cómo diferenciarse entre esos dos extremos." 

La inteligencia artificial gana terreno 

La inteligencia artificial también continúa expandiéndose dentro de la industria, aunque su nivel de adopción varía considerablemente entre empresas. “Algunas compañías todavía son cautelosas, mientras que otras ya la utilizan para planificación, logística y otras funciones," comentó Paul. Añadió que las implementaciones más exitosas parten de una necesidad claramente identificada. "Las empresas que obtienen mejores resultados primero identifican un problema de negocio y después seleccionan la herramienta adecuada para resolverlo." 

Mano de obra, energía y cadena de suministro definirán el futuro 

De cara a los próximos años, varios factores podrían limitar el crecimiento, entre ellos la disponibilidad de mano de obra, la capacidad de generación eléctrica y los desafíos en la cadena de suministro. En particular, el suministro de energía podría convertirse en uno de los principales obstáculos para la expansión de los centros de datos. 

"En el norte de Virginia, los centros de datos ya representan cerca del 30% del consumo eléctrico," explicó Paul. "Ese será uno de los mayores desafíos." 

Al mismo tiempo, la construcción modular y la prefabricación están cobrando mayor importancia como estrategias para enfrentar la escasez de trabajadores y reducir los tiempos de ejecución de los proyectos. 

Un panorama favorable con retos estratégicos 

En términos generales, las proyecciones de FMI apuntan a un crecimiento sostenido, especialmente en los sectores no residencial e infraestructura, impulsado por la expansión de los centros de datos y los cambios regionales en la inversión. 

"Todavía existe mucho optimismo," concluyó Paul. "Pero también hay incertidumbre y las empresas están aprendiendo a navegarla." 

Para contratistas, fabricantes y distribuidores, el éxito dependerá de comprender cómo está cambiando la demanda, adaptarse a la consolidación del mercado y aprovechar las nuevas herramientas y tecnologías para mantenerse competitivos. 

By The Coffee Shops™. 

Data centers fuel the next phase of growth.  

At the 2026 MCA Summer Meeting, Paul Trombitas of FMI delivered a comprehensive market outlook, highlighting strong long-term growth across construction sectors, shifting geographic demand and evolving dynamics driven by data centers, consolidation and emerging technologies. 

“This gives us a good sense of what the overall trend of the market is,” Paul said. “No one chases 100% of the marketplace, but it helps you understand where you are headed.” 

Nonresidential and infrastructure drive growth 

FMI’s Q2 2026 outlook shows a changing balance across construction segments. While residential has historically dominated, recent years have brought greater parity between residential and nonresidential markets. 

“Residential and nonresidential are representing very similar volumes now,” Paul explained. “A lot of that is due to high demand from data centers and high-tech manufacturing, along with some softness in residential.” 

Looking ahead through 2030, FMI forecasts: 

• Residential growth around 4% to 4.5% 
• Nonresidential growth near 6% 
• Nonbuilding growth approaching 7.8% 

Overall, the total construction market is expected to grow at roughly 5.8%, with infrastructure tied to power and data centers driving much of the expansion. 

“That power is largely related to supporting the infrastructure for data centers,” Paul said. “That is the biggest challenge right now.” 

Data centers reshape the market 

Few sectors are influencing construction as dramatically as data centers. FMI projects data centers will continue to drive both demand and project prioritization across the country. 

“Data centers themselves are growing at about an 18% annual rate through 2030,” Paul noted, adding that they are now being separated from traditional office construction due to their rapid expansion. 

Their impact extends beyond project volume. Data centers are also influencing material demand, construction timelines and geographic investment. 

“They only care about getting the new technology in,” Paul said. “They’re willing to pay more for whatever allows them to do that faster.” 

Secondary cities gain momentum 

Shifting population trends and corporate relocations are fueling growth in emerging markets. Secondary cities such as Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville and Tampa are becoming major construction hubs. “You follow where the population is moving,” Paul said. “That’s exactly where the dollars are going.” 

Corporate relocations are accelerating this trend, driving demand for housing, healthcare, education and commercial infrastructure in these regions. 

Metal roofing and wall systems show strong gains 

FMI’s updated forecast for metal roofing projects steady growth through 2030, with total square footage expected to increase by roughly 16%. Nonresidential applications are expected to lead that expansion. “There’s stronger growth in nonresidential industrial, institutional and commercial,” Paul said. 

Residential still accounts for the majority of metal roofing volume, but nonresidential is gaining share. Replacement work also dominates the market, making up more than 90% of activity. 

On the wall side, growth is even more pronounced. FMI forecasts more than 30% growth in metal wall systems, supported by industrial development and increased adoption in residential applications. “Metal wall continues to see very favorable growth,” Paul said, citing durability, sustainability and design flexibility as key drivers. 

Pricing and materials remain a concern 

Despite strong growth projections, pricing volatility continues to create uncertainty, particularly with aluminum and other substrates. “Aluminum prices have risen sharply, and that has prompted some projects to shift away from metal,” Paul said. “There’s concern about being overpriced relative to competing materials.” This pricing pressure could influence material selection, especially in cost-sensitive segments. 

Industry consolidation accelerates 

Another major theme highlighted in the presentation was consolidation across the supply chain. Recent acquisitions involving major distributors have reshaped the competitive landscape. “It’s almost an arms race of who can buy more and bigger distributors,” Paul said. 

At the same time, new entrants and smaller players are entering the market, creating a widening gap between large, consolidated firms and emerging competitors. “The middle is in a unique position,” Paul explained. “They’re trying to figure out how to position themselves between those two extremes.” 

AI adoption expands across construction 

Artificial intelligence is also gaining traction across the industry, though adoption varies widely. “Some companies are still hesitant, while others are using it for planning and logistics,” Paul said. He emphasized that successful adoption depends on clearly defined use cases. “The ones doing it effectively are building a business case,” he said. “They’re identifying challenges first, then selecting the right tool to address them.” 

Labor, power and supply chain shape the future 

Looking ahead, several constraints could influence growth, including labor availability, energy infrastructure and supply chain challenges. Power capacity, in particular, may become a limiting factor for data center expansion. 

“In Northern Virginia, data centers already represent nearly 30% of electricity consumption,” Paul said. “That’s going to be one of the biggest issues.” 

At the same time, modular construction and prefabrication are emerging as key strategies to address labor shortages and accelerate project timelines. 

Strong outlook with strategic considerations 

Overall, FMI’s forecast points to sustained growth, particularly in nonresidential and infrastructure sectors, supported by data center expansion and regional shifts. “There’s still a lot of optimism,” Paul said. “But there’s also underlying uncertainty that companies are navigating.” 

For contractors, manufacturers and distributors, success will depend on understanding shifting demand, adapting to consolidation and leveraging new tools and technologies to stay competitive. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about what’s driving the rise of mergers and acquisitions in the modern roofing industry.  

Recently, the roofing industry has experienced a variety of game-changing mergers and acquisitions (M&A). A rise in consolidation to this scale hasn’t been seen since the 1990s and can seem unsettling at first glance. To take a deeper look at what’s going on, Heidi J. Ellsworth hosted Paul Trombitas and Paul Giovannoni of FMI Corp, a leading research firm for the construction industry, for an episode of Contractor Outlook. 

Paul G. gave some context to the history of M&As in the industry, saying, “Over the last 5 to 10 years, you've seen mergers and acquisition activities really ramp up in the broader construction market. While it’s always been present and there's always been certain investors who had interest in the space, it seems like it's steamrolling and gaining momentum.”  Paul G. cites this growth to a change of perception.  

Historically, the roofing industry has been seen as both cyclical and highly volatile – which investors are realizing is not actually true. We saw it happen before our eyes during the COVID pandemic. While much new building and construction work faltered, the service and maintenance side of the market remained strong and resilient. In addition to this shift in perception of the industry, investors realized that the roofing world has a lot of space for growth. Paul G. elaborated, “Investors realized that with family owned businesses, there's a lot of opportunity for improvement both operationally through technology and through growth through acquisition and add-ons.” 

Looking to examples of big M&As in 2025, one of the first ones that likely comes to mind is QXO acquiring Beacon. Paul T. gave some insight into this industry shift, echoing some of Paul G.’s thoughts, saying, “With QXO, I think there was an initial draw because of the idea that roofing was a highly fragmented market. While that’s true for contracting, when you look at it in that roofing distribution space, there's really only three major firms. But it got them interested, and then it turned to a conversation of these digital platforms, everything from configurator tools to full online storefronts and the adoption curve in construction.” In general, the roofing and larger construction industries can be slow to adopt new technology — using AI or online sales. What QXO realized was that acquiring Beacon was a way to get ahead of that curve, to be the ones leading the way into those technologies rather than following.  

Read the transcript, Listen to the episode or Watch the entire recording to learn more about the role of mergers and acqusitions in today’s roofing industry.

By Emma Peterson.

Examine market growth and industry shifts with Paul Trombitas and the FMI 2025 North American Construction Outlook report.

From new tariffs to changing immigration policies and more, 2025 has been an interesting year for the construction industry. To help you get a better understanding of what is going on in our market, FMI Research created a 2025 North American Construction Outlook report. To learn more about this, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Paul Trombitas for an episode of Contractor Outlook. Paul is a partner at FMI with a focus on the building products sector team. This position means that he is incredibly knowledgeable of the dynamic challenges facing members of our industry, whether they are manufacturers, contractors, architects or another type of professional.

When looking at this year’s North American Construction Outlook report, Paul noted that there’s a variety of factors affecting the industry right now. He elaborated, “It's the political climate, affordability rates, technological trends and advancements. On top of it all, you also have generational transitions. The dynamic market we see today is from all of these converging together right now.”  

While a lot of these factors seem challenging and stressful, Paul noted that we are still seeing a very favorable growth market of the construction industry. He explained, “If we look at just 2025 data center spending, it’s anticipated to be $30 billion, which is substantially higher than it was in 2020.” Looking at that in terms of spending, there has been a slight drop in the last five years. Paul shared, “When we look from 2023 to 2024, we saw 6% growth. And then moving from 2024 to 2025, it's 2%. So a slowing of growth, but it is still growth.” And the outlook for the future remains strong. Paul explained, “Overall, we're seeing more stabilization and while we anticipate 2025 to 2026 to be lower growth years, it is then predicted for a return to higher annual growth rates from 2027 to 2028.”

Read the transcript, Listen to the episode or Watch the full conversation to learn more about FMI’s 2025 North American Construction Outlook report and the future of the construction industries. 

By Emma Peterson.

Learn about the challenges and opportunities tariffs present to the building and construction industries.

Speakers Bureau is one of RoofersCoffeeShops®'s newer initiatives. It aims to connect professional speakers and experts in the industry to events and opportunities. RoofersCoffeeShop President Heidi J. Ellsworth explained a bit about the inspiration for this Bureau, saying, “We are regularly asked if we know good speakers for association and company events, continuing education and trainings. The RCS Speakers Bureau highlights exceptional speakers in a directory format offering insights into their past experience and overall roofing industry knowledge."

One such member of the Speakers Bureau is Paul Tombitas. Paul is a partner in FMI Consulting’s strategy practice and leads their building products sector team. In his 10 plus years with FMI, he has worked with clients to develop everything from market strategy to customer-first company cultures. Recently, he published a timely article about tariffs and the implications they have on the building and construction industries.

If you haven’t heard yet, there are new enacted tariffs on Canada and China. Most pressing to our industry are the 25% tariffs on materials like steel and aluminum. These tariffs create both challenges and opportunities for companies. Paul’s fellow FMI Partner Jay Bowman explained, “Project pipelines may slow, and firms will need to adopt strategic countermeasures to navigate this volatile environment. However, these challenges also present opportunities for firms that can adapt their procurement strategies, hedge against risk and position themselves as trusted advisors to clients.”

In the domestic market, manufacturers should look into leveraging domestic supply chains. Because tariffs make imported materials and products more expensive, those that capitalize on domestic options can capitalize on pricing gains and reduced international competition. Those with international facilities should also consider reshoring their operations and/or strategically adjusting pricing to offset increased costs.  

For foreign manufacturers, tariffs provide far more threats than opportunities. Paul writes, “Higher costs make their products less competitive against domestic alternatives, forcing companies to absorb price increases, pass costs to customers or explore alternative operations.” Overall, we can expect to see a rise in cost for foreign materials. Using the example of steel and aluminum, there are prediction of U.S. prices increasing by 8.2% and 5.7% respectively. Ultimately, there are two main paths that foreign manufacturers will take, invest in establishing production facilities in the U.S. (Recticel Group is an example of this) or shift their interests away from the U.S. market to other nations.

To learn more about pricing volatility, market shifts, growth opportunities and more, read Paul’s full article!

By Dani Sheehan. 

Numbers project a slowdown in growth over the next few years, but how will this affect each sector? Listen to this Contractor Outlook newscast to find out and focus your business approach. 

“The quote, ‘the only thing constant is change’ really resonates,” Paul starts. “When we look at the construction space over the next several years, it continues to evolve.” 

You won’t want to miss the twists and turns of a recent Contractor Outlook newscast to better understand factors influencing the construction industry today. Heidi J. Ellsworth sits down with Paul Trombitas of FMI, a leading research company, to breakdown the numbers in the 2024 FMI Building Products Market Overview. They look at current trends and forecast a view of the next five years. 

The construction industry has seen significant growth over the past several years, but the landscape is starting to change. Paul reveals that while the industry experienced substantial growth from 2021 to 2023, the following years will slow down. “What we anticipate moving forward is really a slowdown in growth – not necessarily a decline – but a change in growth from six percent down to three percent,” Paul explains. 

Not all sectors will be affected equally, however. Paul points out that in the residential market, single-family construction is expected to fare well, with a projected seven percent annual growth rate. He’s seeing declines in the multifamily market through 2026. Residential construction accounts for 45% of overall spending, so these trends will have a significant impact on the market. He shares, “It’s a great way to gauge the health and wellness of the overall market in your portfolio of segments. And projects and products are going to be different than the overall market. And it's a way to gauge how you're performing against the marketplace.” 

The forecast provides a tool for evaluating your market position and adjusting your business approach. Whether the market slows down or picks up, understanding the changing dynamics can help you decide whether to be more competitive in filling your backlog or more selective in choosing your projects. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the newscast or Watch the webinar to help you prepare for the future in today’s evolving construction landscape.