Industrial Developments Construction Stages Methodology

Industrial project durations vary widely depending on scale and complexity. For instance, a 50,000 square foot assembly plant may take around a year to complete, while a semiconductor facility exceeding 500,000 square feet can span more than three years. To ensure consistent progress tracking across these different project types, Aterio applies a percentage-based timeline framework that represents proportional completion milestones rather than fixed durations.

Percentage Framework

Construction milestones are assigned to key progress intervals (e.g., 5%, 10%, 20%). These percentages indicate visible, externally verifiable progress observed through satellite imagery. All timelines account for the reality that interior work constitutes a significant portion of total construction time but remains invisible to satellite monitoring.

Visual Indicators Used for Progress Assessment

Aterio’s analysts measure construction progress using consistent, visible cues in imagery, including:

• Surface transitions – from vegetation to graded soil to finished surfaces

• Structural evolution – framing, roofing, and building footprint expansion

• Equipment and exterior installation – generators, rooftop units

• Site completion work – paving, landscaping, or boundary development

Aterio’s Percentages Framework for Industrial Development

5% - Site Clearing Initiated

• Visible: Color change from green/existing to brown/disturbed soil

• Indicators: Site boundaries visible, vegetation removed, earth disturbance patterns

10% - Land Grading and Leveling

• Visible: Uniform earth tone, grading patterns, equipment tracks

• Indicators: Smooth surface, visible grading contours, drainage features

20% - Foundation Excavation Visible

• Visible: Dark trenches/holes, stockpiles at perimeter

• Indicators: Excavation shadows, foundation perimeter defined, soil pile formations

30% - Foundation Concrete Poured

• Visible: Light gray concrete patterns, rectangular foundation footprint

• Indicators: Concrete surface texture, defined building outline, uniform gray surface

40% - Structural Steel Erection Begins

• Visible: Shadow-casting vertical elements, steel framework visible

• Indicators: Vertical columns creating shadows, grid pattern emerging, height development

50% - Structural Steel Framing Complete

• Visible: Building height evident, structural grid clear

• Indicators: Multiple column rows visible, significant shadow casting, building form evident

60% - Roof Structure Begins

• Visible: Mixed roof colors (completed vs in-progress sections)

• Indicators: Partial roof coverage, color/texture variations, installation pattern visible

70% - Roof Installation Complete

• Visible: Uniform roof color/texture across entire footprint

• Indicators: Complete roof coverage, consistent surface appearance, no open areas

80% - Building Envelope Complete

• Visible: No open bays, uniform building appearance, complete enclosure

• Indicators: All exterior walls finished, doors/windows installed, weather-tight structure

90% - Exterior Equipment Pads Visible; Rooftop HVAC Units

• Visible: Rooftop equipment visible, exterior pads/platforms present

• Indicators: HVAC units on roof, transformer pads, exterior mechanical equipment

95% - Site Work and Paving Complete

• Visible: Gray/black paved surfaces, parking stripes, loading areas

• Indicators: Parking lots finished, access roads paved, line striping visible

100% - Landscaping and Final Site Improvements

• Visible: Clean site, no staging areas/construction equipment, green spaces, defined pathways

• Indicators: No visible construction activity, walkways completed, perimeter finished

Estimated Activation Dates

Aterio records the activation or completion date provided directly by the project developer or operator. When such information is not disclosed, activation dates are estimated using standardized construction duration benchmarks to maintain consistency across the dataset. These benchmarks align with typical timelines for large-scale industrial projects and are applied to ensure comparability between industry sectors.

Manufacturing Facilities Construction Timeline

Manufacturing facilities represent complex industrial builds due to specialized equipment requirements, utility needs, and process-specific infrastructure.

Timeline by Size

• Small Facility (<50,000 sq ft): 10–14 months total construction​

• Medium Facility (50,000 – 150,000 sq ft): 18–24 months total construction​

• Large Facility (150,000+ sq ft): 36–48 months total construction

Warehouse Construction Timeline

Warehouses typically have faster construction timelines due to simpler building systems and standardized designs.

Timeline by Size

• Small Facility (<50,000 sq ft): 6–9 months total construction​

• Medium Facility (50,000 – 150,000 sq ft): 12–16 months total construction​

• Large Facility (150,000+ sq ft): 22–30 months total construction

Solar Farm Construction Timeline

Solar farms have unique construction characteristics with significant equipment installation phases and weather dependencies.

Timeline by Size

• Small Facility (<10 MW, <100 acres): 7–10 months total construction​

• Medium Facility (10–50 MW, 100–500 acres): 18–24 months total construction​

• Large Facility (50+ MW, 500+ acres): 30–42 months total construction

Energy Projects (Power Plants) Construction Timeline

Power plant construction involves extensive mechanical systems, long-lead equipment, and rigorous safety/environmental requirements.

Timeline by Size

• Small Facility (<250 MW): 30–48 months total construction​

• Medium Facility (250–800 MW): 50–72 months total construction​

• Large Facility (800+ MW, incl. nuclear): 70–96+ months total construction​

Hospitals Construction Timeline

Hospital construction is among the most complex due to stringent codes, specialized systems, and operational requirements during construction.

Timeline by Size

• Small Facility (<100 beds, <100,000 sq ft): 40–54 months total construction​

• Medium Facility (100–400 beds, 100,000–350,000 sq ft): 60–84 months total construction​

• Large Facility (400+ beds, 350,000+ sq ft): 100–120 months total construction

Other Projects incl. Stadiums, Sports Facilities etc. Construction Timeline

These large-scale venues are unique mega projects combining complex structural, architectural, and mechanical systems with large occupancies.

Timeline by Size

• Small Facility (<30,000 seats / <100,000 sq ft): 18–24 months total construction

• Medium Facility (30,000 – 60,000 seats / 100,000 – 300,000 sq ft): 24–36 months total construction

• Large Facility (60,000+ seats / 300,000+ sq ft): 36–48+ months total construction