AI is driving demand for data centers, but the ripple effects go far beyond technology.

In Episode 2 of The Punch List, Jon Wright, TK, and Kanav Hasija discuss rising copper prices, the growing shortage of skilled trades, and why converting office buildings into housing is far more complicated than many people realize.

They explore material escalation, the retirement wave hitting the construction workforce, business opportunities hiding inside labor shortages, and whether adaptive reuse can solve America's office vacancy problem.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:09) Copper prices and the AI data center boom

(04:06) Why material costs aren't coming down anytime soon

(05:19) The skilled labor shortage and retiring workforce

(07:05) Why electricians may outperform lawyers in the AI era

(09:25) The business opportunity behind the trades gap

(12:37) Office-to-residential conversions explained

(15:40) Why adaptive reuse is harder than it sounds

(17:47) Hidden costs, codes, and unpredictable renovations

(20:44) The future of office buildings and city design

(24:16) Why commute patterns are changing everything

(25:14) Closing thoughts

Connect with us:

• Connect with Tanmaya Kala on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanmaya-kala-pe-3324a13/
• Connect with Jon Wright on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonpwright/
• Connect with Kanav Hasija on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanavhasija/

Resources:

• Copper Prices Hit All-Time Records: https://news.constructconnect.com/copper-prices-hit-record-as-cost-pressures-build
• Shrinking Tradesman Workforce: https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/04/shrinking-share-of-tradesmen-in-the-construction-workforce
• Home Construction Costs in 2026: Current & Upcoming Trends: https://ls-usa.com/blog/home-construction-costs-2026