Bechtel overhaul project delivery
Bechtel has already incorporated digitisation, robotics and automation into its jobsite operations
Bechtel, one of the largest contractors in the United States, is reshaping the way it delivers major projects by expanding its use of artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies. To lead this effort, the Reston, Virginia-based company has appointed longtime executive John Platt to a newly created role focused on transforming its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model.
Announced on Monday, Platt’s appointment as senior vice president of EPC transformation signals a major push to modernise Bechtel’s project delivery through AI, automation, robotics and other emerging technologies. A Bechtel employee since 2000, Platt will oversee the initiative as part of a broader, multi-year strategy aimed at improving quality, execution and capacity across the company’s global portfolio.
“Our customers’ ambitions continue to grow, and advances in technology are creating new opportunities for our industry to improve productivity and speed,” said Craig Albert, Bechtel’s president and chief operating officer. He noted that these innovations will help Bechtel take on more projects while addressing some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges.
Bechtel has already incorporated digitisation, robotics and automation into its jobsite operations, developing a range of proven applications. The company believes AI has now advanced enough to further accelerate efficiency and performance across its delivery processes.
This transformation comes at a time when demand for large-scale infrastructure — particularly in the booming data centre sector — is creating significant opportunities for contractors able to build quickly and innovate. Bechtel has positioned itself strongly in this space, signing an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to support Japan’s massive investment in American power, manufacturing and data centre infrastructure. The company has also partnered with Nvidia to help speed up data centre construction using Nvidia’s Omniverse technology.
Beyond data centres, Bechtel continues to secure major domestic megaprojects. One recent example is its $4.77 billion contract for work on the Rio Grande liquefied natural gas project in Texas, part of the wider $6.7 billion Train 4 development expected to produce 6 million tons of LNG annually.
Platt said Bechtel’s deeper integration of AI and robotics represents the next step in evolving the company’s execution model, combining more than a century of experience with modern tools that deliver greater productivity and value for clients.
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