March 29, 2010 Construction: GlobalFoundries has its place among the nations largest projects
The $4.2 billion computer chip plant being built in Malta has been described as the biggest construction project in the United States, but it all depends on how you measure the costs.
The $4.2 billion figure includes about $3.4 billion worth of high-tech tools and equipment that will be installed to make computer chips.
Constructing the chip fab itself, along with a central utility building and other facilities, will cost about $800 million, according to M+W US, which is building the plant for GlobalFoundries.
At $800 million, the chip fab is the fifth-largest construction project in the U.S. by dollar volume, based solely on the value of the construction, according to Jim Haughey, chief economist at Reed Construction Data in Waltham, Mass.
Here are the Top 5 projects (note: the figures don't include the value of moveable equipment).
Rank Project Description Location Cost
1. Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal New airport terminal and concourse wing at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hapeville, Ga., about 10 miles outside downtown Atlanta $1.3 billion
2. Sacramento International Airport Terminal B Also called The Big Build, the project will replace a 40-year-old terminal and add 680,000 square feet of space Sacramento, Calif. $950 million
3. University Health System's University Hospital Medical Center One of the largest construction projects in San Antonio history will include a 1 million-square-foot trauma tower San Antonio, Texas $900 million
4. Devon Energy Office Tower 50-story, 1.8 million-square-foot tower for this oil and natural gas exploration company Oklahoma City, Okla. $850 million
5. GlobalFoundries Fab 8 1.3 million-square-foot chip fab scheduled to open in 2012 Malta, Saratoga County $800 million
