As expected, Intel selected Bechtel Corp. as the general contractor for the first phase of its $100 billion semiconductor manufacturing campus in New Albany.
The official announcement, made on Nov. 28, did not come as a surprise as Betchel was linked to this project since it was announced Ohio had landed the semiconductor project.
“Intel has chosen Bechtel to deliver our largest construction project to date, advancing our mission to create a more sustainable, resilient and geographically balanced supply of silicon,” Jackie Sturm, Intel’s Corporate Vice President, Global Supply Chain Operations, said in a prepared statement.
“Bechtel has decades of world-class expertise in complex global construction projects, leveraging a deeply experienced team, critical craft support and robust analytics platforms. Their relentless focus on safety, quality and innovation aligns with Intel’s key values. We look forward to building the future of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing together.”
Roughly 7,000 union construction jobs, including hundreds of jobs for sheet metal workers, should be created from the initial build, which will take place under a National Construction Agreement.
Considered a four-phase project, the first phase will include the construction of two semiconductor plants, called fabs, along with a parking garage, a wastewater treatment plant, office buildings and other facilities at a cost of $20 billion.
Phases II, III and IV will each add two additional fabs, as the overall project will likely tally around $100 billion and result in eight total plants.
Once complete, maintenance and turnaround work will create thousands of additional jobs for members of the building trades. It will also provide work for hundreds of members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 24.
In a prepared statement, Betchel was honored to be picked to build Intel’s most advanced semiconductor facility in the world, a company representative said.
“Bechtel is proud to work with Intel and the people of Ohio to reclaim U.S. semiconductor manufacturing,” said Catherine Hunt Ryan, President of Bechtel’s Manufacturing and Technology Business. “A project of this complexity and magnitude – with an outsized impact on the community and economy – is the type of work Bechtel is uniquely positioned to deliver.”
The selection of Bechtel marks another significant milestone for the largest private construction project in the history of Ohio. The new facilities will produce Intel’s leading-edge chips, boosting production to meet the increasing demand for advanced semiconductors.