Data centers are eating up steel. Developers are now looking at timber.
Why this matters
Industrial has moved into a normalization phase after the 2020-2023 frenzy. Vacancies are up modestly, sublease space remains a watch item in the big-box logistics segment, and rent growth has shifted from double-digit to mid-single-digit. The long-term tailwinds — nearshoring, e-commerce penetration, infill scarcity — remain intact. Institutional capital is calibrating between core income and value-add basis plays as the cycle matures.
Editorial analysis · Real Estate Trail Editorial
On the RET wire
- Disclosed industrial deal value tracked in September 2026: $1.9B across 15 reported transactions. All Industrial coverage →
Computed from Real Estate Trail’s own tracked coverage
Surging steel costs and longer lead times are pushing data center developers to consider alternatives, Skanska executives said during a webinar.
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