The December Dodge Momentum Index, which measures future non-residential construction, grew by 2.9 percent in December, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.
A 5.7 percent rise in the commercial sector offset a 1.7 percent decline in institutional planning.
The index is currently at an eight-year high but it is still down 25 percent from its 2007 peak.
The index is a monthly measure of initial reports of nonresidential construction projects in the planning stages, which typically leads spending by one year.
Commercial planning rose 38 percent since the beginning of last year. Institutional, however, fell slightly.
Dodge said commercial is likely to continue to grow but at a slower pace. Increased school construction could give the institutional sector a boost, Dodge said.