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The clock has just struck midnight, and about 60 people are bustling around an empty taxiway at Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW). Architects, contractors, engineers, ground creweveryone has gathered for an unprecedented event. After years of planning and months of meticulous scheduling, six massive buildings are about to be wheeled into place near Terminal C. Yes, wheeled.DFW is the fourth-busiest airport in the world, and it’s currently undergoing a $9 billion project that includes an expansion of Terminals A and C, as well as a new Terminal F. To build out the airport without closing any gates or disrupting the flight schedule, HOK, the lead architecture firm behind the project, turned to an increasingly popular method of building: modular construction.Modular construction has long been a solution for schools and apartment complexes, but airports in cities such as Dallas; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Atlanta are now embracing it as a solution to quickly expand their square footage as a tourism boom pushes airports to their limit.Airports have high operational cost, and that is what modular construction offsets, says Richard Saunders, engineering practice leader for HOKs Atlanta studio. He estimates that the operational impacts are roughly cut in half.[Rendering: Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport]Designing for the future of tourismWhen the HOK-designed Dallas-Fort Worth airport opened in 1974, it was hailed as a modern marvel of airport architecture. HOKs director of engineering, Matt Breidenthal, says it even graced the cover of Life magazine that year. The original design, however, wasnt built for modern air travel, he says.Over the past 50 years, global tourism has surged drastically, jumping from 680 million tourists in 2000 to 1.4 billion in 2024. After a yearslong, pandemic-induced slump, the travel industry is expected to reach a new record high in 2025.DFW is responding to this demand by adding 115,000 square feet and four gates to Terminal C, plus 140,000 square feet and five gates to Terminal A. An all-new Terminal F, designed by HarrisonKornberg Architects and Luis Vidal + Architects (slated to open in 2027), will have 31 new gates. The Terminal C and A expansions are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.[Photo: Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport]A decade ago, a major airport expansion project would have required closing runways, as traditional stick-built construction required erecting buildings directly on-site and turning operational gates into construction zones. But HOK suggested fabricating the structures at a nearby greenfield location, then transporting them into place overnight, during low-traffic hours. DFW was one of the first major airports to pioneer modular construction for terminal expansions back in 2022, when six prefabricated modules formed part of a new 80,000-square-foot concourse at Terminal C. The largest module then weighed 550 tons. This May, the airport set a new record, wheeling in modules twice as heavy.[Photo: Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport]For HOK, modular construction fits large-scale airports perfectly because it can offset steep operational costs. The architects also see potential in stadium renovationsespecially American football arenas, which have a limited amount of time to complete renovations in the off-season. Whatever the building type, says Saunders, it has to be the right size to make it worthwhile. If the building is 10,000 square feet, it doesnt make sense to build here then move it over there, because theres a cost to moving it. [Video: DFW/HOK]Moving a 1,200-ton buildingAt DFW, each move took place over six nights, spaced two nights apart to allow for contingencies. Each operation began around 9 p.m. and wrapped up by 3 or 4 a.m., just as runways reopened to daytime flights. HOK built the new modules just outside the airports security perimeter, which helped accelerate construction and inspection processes.Moving a 1,200-ton building across a taxiway was made possible by Mammoet, a specialist in heavy transport. In 1985, Mammoet invented the self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT), a platform on wheels that can carry enormous loads by driving underneath heavy modules, then lifting them using hydraulics.[Image: HOK]A spokesperson from Mammoet explained that while SPMTs arent new, the combination with its Mega Jack system is a recent innovation. The technology, which was first introduced in Atlanta, allows heavy modules to be lifted to nearly any height and directly onto foundationsrather than just a few feet off the ground. The DFW operation required an army of SPMTs, all coordinated by a single operator using a sophisticated remote control system that Brendeinthal jokingly called a glorified Game Boy.[Photo: courtesy Los Angeles World Airports]Once wheeled into position, the modules were parked adjacent to the terminal, where a precise operation aligned them perfectly before lowering them onto pre-built foundations. After all modules were in place, the team completed the structure by stitching them together with concrete.Mammoets self-propelled modular transporter moves a prefabricated section of a new terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport [Photo: Mammoet]The airport now faces the final tasks: installing baggage handling systems, mechanical units, and interior furnishings.[Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images]Future-proofing airportsAt DWF, speed and operational efficiency were key, but modular construction can also prove more sustainable. When architecture firm Woods Bagot started working on the new American Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, the goal was to prove that major public infrastructure could be delivered faster, and smarter. This meant designing a fully demountable terminal.The construction industry is responsible for approximately 39% of the worlds global greenhouse gas emissions, and more than a fourth of those come from embodied carbon emissions associated with the production of building materials and construction. If LAX ever needs to reconfigure its layout, it wouldnt need to demolish this terminal and build a new one from scratch. Instead, it could be relocated and repurposed as office space or community facilities.[Image: courtesy Woods Bagot]The LAX expansion involves the MSC South Concoursean eight-gate, two-story building. Woods Bagot used a system called off-site construction and relocation (OCR), which is akin to modular construction but with greater scope. Unlike at DFW, where windows and finishes were added post-installation, the LAX team built nearly the entire terminal off-site, including windows and mechanical systems. Only final finishes like terrazzo floors and wayfinding signs were installed on-site.This made some of the modules heavier than they would have been, but Matt Ducharme, Woods Bagot’s West Coast design leader, says the up-front investment helped avoid the kind of disruption that installing a gigantic windowpane would have caused. LAX is a 24/7 airport and none of the takeoffs or arrivals were disrupted at all, he says. The architects calculations showed that OCR helped cut construction time by six months and saved approximately $30 million compared to a traditional stick build.This technique also called for a rigorous design discipline, where every element had to be justified. One of the more joyful aspects of the project is the brise-soleil, Ducharme says. The shading feature blocks heat from the glass facade, actively cooling the building, but if it had been an architectural flourish, it wouldn’t have made the cut. As Ducharme puts it: Every piece of the building needs to be very hardworking.”
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On August 5, new automotive industry data revealed how EV brands are faring in the U.K. and Germany, and the update marks yet another chapter in the saga of Teslas terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. According to the reports, Teslas European sales slumped in July, as sales of its top competitor, the Chinese company BYD, shot up. This isnt exactly a new story: Since the beginning of the year, Teslas European sales have been trending on a sharp downward decline, while BYD has made major headway in expanding through global markets. As this pattern continues to play out, the data points to the possibility that BYD is on a fast track to overtake Tesla at the top of the EV market. Tesla continues to stumble in the U.K. and Germany According to data from the U.K.s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Teslas new car sales in the U.K. dropped by nearly 60% to 987 units in July, down from 2,462 year-over-year. The story was much the same in Germany, where the brands new car sales fell by around 55%, based on data from the road traffic agency KBA. Teslas slump cant be attributed to an overall decline in the EV market, either: Total EV sales were up by 9.1% for the month in the U.K., and up 58% in Germany. BYD, on the other hand, saw massive gains in Europe this past month. In the U.K., the brand quadrupled its year-over-year sales for the month to a total of 3,184. In Germany, sales went up almost fivefold to 1,126 cars sold. At this point, Tesla is falling solidly behind BYD in the European market. By late March of this year, Tesla had already sold nearly 43% fewer cars in the region compared to the same period in 2024. In May, its sales in the U.K. and Germany plummeted to multi-year lows, allowing BYD to surpass it on European sales for the first time ever. Now, it seems like BYDs upward trajectory is only getting started. BYD may be on a path to EV market domination Tesla and BYDs battle for market dominance in Europe might be a harbinger of whats to come for the two brands on a global scale. In 2024, BYD topped Tesla in terms of total revenue, but it still lagged behind on overall profitability. In 2025, that narrative may be shifting. Per its second quarter earnings report, published at the end of July, Tesla notched its steepest decline in quarterly revenue in more than a decade, with a 12% fall. The news has caused investors to question whether Tesla CEO Elon Musks involvement in American politics has permanently damaged the brand. Meanwhile, BYD saw its revenue rise by 37.4% year-over-year in its most recent first quarter report. As pressure continues to mount against Tesla, the brand is beginning to bet more of its resources on breaking into the nascent robotaxi industry. On August 1, though, a Florida court verdict called the safety of Teslas Autopilot function into question, a development that may stifle Teslas robotaxi plans before they even get off the ground. Teslas compounding struggles, combined with BYDs meteoric success, may result in a very different global EV landscape by the end of this year. BYDs second quarter results, which are likely to publish at the end of August, will shed more light onto how the company is currently faringand how soon it might be poised to dethrone Tesla on profit.
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As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry, America stands at a crossroads. We can either double down on our greatest competitive advantage, attracting the world’s brightest minds, or watch our AI leadership slowly migrate to countries that have figured out what we haven’t: immigration policy is technology policy. After over a decade leading AI initiatives at Microsoft, democratizing natural language processing that serves millions globally, I’ve seen both the promise and the peril of our current moment. The engineers and researchers building tomorrow’s breakthroughs are increasingly weighing their options. The question isn’t whether they want to build in America, it’s whether America wants to make it possible. The Talent Pipeline America Built Let’s start with what we’re doing right. The U.S. has created an unmatched ecosystem with 59% of the world’s top-tier AI researchers. We’ve built the universities, the venture capital networks, and the innovation culture that attracts global genius. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI didn’t emerge by accident, they’re the product of decades of smart talent attraction. The data shows our success: nearly half of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, generating $8.1 trillion in revenue and employing over 14.8 million people. In AI specifically, only 20% of top researchers earned their undergraduate degrees in the U.S., but 59% choose to do their breakthrough work here. We’re not starting from zero, we’re optimizing a proven winning formula. When we get immigration right, the returns are extraordinary. H-1B workers earn a median wage of $108,000 compared to $45,760 for U.S. workers generally, contributing significantly to tax revenue and consumer spending. Research shows that when immigrant college graduates increase by 1%, patents per capita increase by 918%. Each talented engineer who builds here creates jobs for American workers through the companies they found and the teams they build. When Timing Costs Talent The challenge isn’t our destination, it’s our process. Processing times for employment-based Form I-129 petitions, the petitions U.S. employers must file to request permission for a foreign national to work temporarily under visas like the H1B or O1, have climbed sharply. They rose more than 25% last quarter and over 80% compared to a year ago, according to USCIS Q2 FY2025 data, even though the overall backlog has decreased. At the same time, EB-1A cases, which are meant for individuals with extraordinary ability, reached a record high of 16,000 pending petitions. For the people leading advances in AI, these are not just delays. They are missed opportunities. In a field where timing is everything, a slow and unpredictable immigration process can push talent to build somewhere else. The Global Competition Advantage Meanwhile, our allies have streamlined their approach. Canada’s Global Talent Stream processes work visas in two weeks. Australia’s National Innovation Visa offers permanent residency with 13 month processing times for exceptional talent. The UK’s Global Talent visa fast-tracks digital technology experts, including those in AI and fintech. Meanwhile in the U.S., work visa petitions like the H1B and O1 often take several months to process. Employers must pay thousands in additional fees for premium processing just to reduce the wait to 15 business days. These aren’t just policy differences, they’re strategic choices. While we debate, they’re decisively capturing talent that could be strengthening American innovation. But this also represents an opportunity: if they can create efficient systems, so can we. Evolving Policies and Smarter Strategies The encouraging news is that progress is underway. In 2024, policy clarifications helped redefine specialty occupation criteria, making it easier for AI engineers and data scientists to qualify for H1B visas without triggering burdensome requests for evidence. In 2023, the Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence issued to Congress aimed to modernize immigration pathways for technical talent. In 2025, a new Executive Order on AI introduced a broader national strategy focused on innovation, safety, and global competitiveness. While the new order replaced the earlier 2023 directive, it places less emphasis on immigration and education, areas that many experts see as critical to long-term AI leadership. Forward-thinking companies are also adapting. Many are exploring O-1 visas for extraordinary ability, which aren’t subject to annual caps, or EB-2 National Interest Waivers for researchers whose work benefits the U.S. The key is matching the right visa strategy to each individual’s profile, something that requires expertise but yields dramatically better outcomes. America’s Enduring Advantage The infrastructure is already here: world-class universities, robust venture capital, and innovation ecosystems that remain the global gold standard. We need immigration processes that match the speed of the minds we’re trying to attract. According to research from the Center for Growth and Opportunity, a startup visa could create 500,000 to 1.6 million new jobs over 10 years. Our choice is simple: we can streamline the pathways for global talent to contribute to American innovation, or we can watch other nations benefit from the minds we educated and inspired. The future belongs to countries that can attract and empower the world’s brightest. America built that playbook, now we need to execute it.
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