--- title: "2026 State of MEP: Data Center Edition" description: We surveyed MEP contractors actively working on data center projects to find out what's really driving success. Click here to see the report. image: https://lp.stratus.build/hubfs/Lps/STATE-OF-MEP-DC.png --- [![stratus-horizontal-light](https://lp.stratus.build/hs-fs/hubfs/stratus-horizontal-light.png?width=100&height=28&name=stratus-horizontal-light.png "stratus-horizontal-light")](https://stratus.build/) [Back to Stratus](http://stratus.build) 2026 State of MEP · Data Center Edition # The Firms Landing Data Center Bids Are Already On Stratus #### The State of MEP: Data Center Edition report surveyed MEP contractors actively working on data center projects to find out what's really driving success, what's holding shops back, and where the market is headed next. [Read the report](https://cta-na2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKu7v%2BbL3SlDoJJgo%2FxGSOD0OV%2BrvmETOX7WbQ2j5tR%2B24RMM8Fw4o8BtPiubhV5%2F6WJSmLZIUCHuzDKTcVXmU73qDIQkvZGpTdys56VLYI1k6hUjyIAzc48I16spHJL7ZWg5dDUMIAOsjpbhvlYvCZZTNuQX605AmE%2FTAzv0YD4oQXeOYmbPmRSLpz9YbXI1u5HxnKtsGwQpKYKt2W7a2FJQYQOx0A6306RwhYQoF6ZXj7vcwBZGv07AusEFpXpP3H&webInteractiveContentId=398675011277&portalId=244996974) --- ### 69% Average prefab rate on data center projects. The highest of any project type surveyed. ### 88% Involves fabrication Of all data center work. Install-only has shrunk to 6%. ### 85% Rank DC #1 sector for business development. 15 points ahead of healthcare. [![STATE-OF-MEP-DC-1](https://lp.stratus.build/hubfs/Lps/STATE-OF-MEP-DC-1.png "STATE-OF-MEP-DC-1")](https://cta-na2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKu7v%2BbL3SlDoJJgo%2FxGSOD0OV%2BrvmETOX7WbQ2j5tR%2B24RMM8Fw4o8BtPiubhV5%2F6WJSmLZIUCHuzDKTcVXmU73qDIQkvZGpTdys56VLYI1k6hUjyIAzc48I16spHJL7ZWg5dDUMIAOsjpbhvlYvCZZTNuQX605AmE%2FTAzv0YD4oQXeOYmbPmRSLpz9YbXI1u5HxnKtsGwQpKYKt2W7a2FJQYQOx0A6306RwhYQoF6ZXj7vcwBZGv07AusEFpXpP3H&webInteractiveContentId=398675011277&portalId=244996974) TRUSTED IN THE SHOP BY ![660320ce6cd58a60c56e8fd2\_JM Brennan Logo](https://lp.stratus.build/hubfs/660320ce6cd58a60c56e8fd2_JM%20Brennan%20Logo.svg) ![65f3f3ca0df16ddbfb48f78f\_Southland Logo](https://lp.stratus.build/hubfs/65f3f3ca0df16ddbfb48f78f_Southland%20Logo.svg) ![65f10df07b4f2f688ec7fa1c\_SPC\_Logo\_black](https://lp.stratus.build/hs-fs/hubfs/65f10df07b4f2f688ec7fa1c_SPC_Logo_black.png?width=500&height=300&name=65f10df07b4f2f688ec7fa1c_SPC_Logo_black.png) ![65f10c9fa66899f4d42f8980\_JRT\_Logo\_black](https://lp.stratus.build/hs-fs/hubfs/65f10c9fa66899f4d42f8980_JRT_Logo_black.png?width=500&height=310&name=65f10c9fa66899f4d42f8980_JRT_Logo_black.png) ![667dd5ecb40d387893df3d3f\_Murray Co logo@0.5x](https://lp.stratus.build/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/667dd5ecb40d387893df3d3f_Murray%20Co%20logo@0.5x.png?width=150&height=33&name=667dd5ecb40d387893df3d3f_Murray%20Co%20logo@0.5x.png) ![667dd5a1c07899297e698c42\_DSI-logo-200](https://lp.stratus.build/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/667dd5a1c07899297e698c42_DSI-logo-200.png?width=199&height=37&name=667dd5a1c07899297e698c42_DSI-logo-200.png) THE MARKET ### The whole industry is leveling up. Fabrication production management is the single largest contributing factor to delivering on time and under budget. Shops are moving more work off-site into modular fabrication: multi-trade racks, skids, and corridor assemblies built once and shipped as one unit. 85% rank data centers their #1 priority sector, and 82% of firms doing the work expect their revenue share from it to grow. THE PROBLEM ### Modular means more moving parts. A rack combining steel, pipe, conduit, and duct exists as a handful of disconnected packages spread across separate trade models, held together by tribal knowledge and a spreadsheet. Five or six due dates get adjusted by hand. The truck leaves without a critical component. And nobody knows whether their own prefab rate and shop constraints are normal for this segment or a real liability. THE REPORT ### So we asked the contractors directly. Stratus surveyed MEP contractors actively delivering data center projects and published the results in full. A real benchmark for prefab rates, shop constraints, visibility gaps, and where the next competitive advantage comes from. Read where the market is, then see what a fully connected BIM to shop to field workflow changes. **ANALYST INSIGHT** ### "Prefab capabilities, capacity, and strong relationships stand out as key differentiators in data center work. The firms growing fastest have built more repeatable, manufacturing-style processes to take on these projects at scale." **2026 State of MEP: Data Center Edition** ![shop-detailing-monitors](https://lp.stratus.build/hubfs/Lps/shop-detailing-monitors.jpg "shop-detailing-monitors") **FROM THE REPORT** ### "Stratus has allowed us to fabricate at scale. We can track our fabrication from the model through installation and commissioning." **Jason Steele** Sr. VDC Manager, Cerris Systems #### See Stratus run your own workflow Stratus is a fabrication platform for MEP contractors (piping and plumbing, electrical, and sheet metal) that replaces manual processes and disconnected tools with one system spanning BIM, shop, and field.  **Book a demo with our team to see how Stratus fits your actual fabrication workflow.** ## Hear It From The Shop: © 2026 GTP Software. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.stratus.build/privacy)