FALL INSIGHTS FROM CRE PROFESSIONALS
with Capstone Development Partners and Elkus Manfredi Architects, is constructing two new 10-story residence halls at Tufts University. The buildings will expand on-campus housing and enhance student life. We recently reached a key milestone with steel erection underway and look forward to celebrating the topping off of both structures in the coming months. What’s one major project, initiative, or innovation your firm is focused on in the months ahead? We’re doubling down on preconstruction innovation – combining our in-house civil engineering team, advanced estimating tools, and real-time cost model- ing. This allows us to identify challenges early, improve site design efficiencies, and give our clients confidence in their budgets long before breaking ground. What are you most excited about for the future of your sector? I’m most excited about the growing role of public-private partnerships (P3) in the residential sector. Our current work at Tufts University, a P3 project, demonstrates how this model can expand housing options and enhance campus life. It’s exciting to see more colleges and universities embracing this collaborative approach to meet student housing needs efficiently and sustainably. pivot and rethink their models. It’s created uncertainty, but also opportunity for firms that can adapt. Meanwhile, the region – espe- cially Massachusetts – remains in a housing crunch. Demand isn’t slowing, prices keep rising, and permitting and zoning hurdles are stalling progress. Towns will need to loosen rules to keep pace. That’s where we come in -helping clients navigate complex processes and move projects forward. What’s one major project, initiative, or innovation your firm is focused on in the months ahead? Permitting and planning are front and center for us. With so many projects in the pipeline, we’re doubling down on strategies to speed up approvals. Owners are pushing for faster schedules, but long permitting timelines, especially in Massachusetts, can inflate risk. That’s why we’re focusing on internal process improvements, including leveraging AI, to keep things moving. Our goal is simple: make the process smoother for clients and eliminate as many surprises as possible. of regulation, electrification mandates, and energy code changes are forcing teams to plan early and adapt quickly. The firms that thrive will tend to be those with a solid track record, access to capital, and assemble a strong design & construction team. What are you most excited about for the future of your sector? I’m excited to see construction evolving into a more data-smart and sustainable business. We’re building better, not just bigger – where design, tech- nology, and field execution align around more measurable performance goals. New technologies are also helping us to identify potential issues earlier, further reducing project risks for our customers.
Christopher Ladd Vice President & COO Ci Design, Inc.
What trends or shifts do you see shaping your industry this fall and into 2026? The acceleration of transportation-ori- ented development. For decades, our studio has designed sustainable mixed-use projects around transit in mega-cities around the world. Recently, we’ve seen the exciting shift to smaller cities, driven by the demand for housing and livable downtowns. For example, we recently partnered with Gilbane and Newman Architects to re-envision a parking lot into a new residential building near transit in New Haven. This initiative highlights the broader trend: transforming underutilized land near public transportation. What’s one major project, initiative, or innovation your firm is focused on in the months ahead? A significant focus for our studio lately is the sustainable repositioning and reimag- ining of existing buildings into high-value assets for owners across the country. Two key projects are wrapping up, including the major revitalization of 600 Fifth in D.C., for the Rockefeller Group and Stonebridge. This project is far more than a cosmetic overhaul. Our design retains the original structure to achieve substantial reductions in embodied carbon, while adding usable area, generous terraces, a new façade expression and a transformed street level experience. Adrienne Nelson AIA, IIDA Principal Pickard Chilton pursue diverse industrial uses as specialty users drive demand for space and flexibility becomes essential to meet tenant needs. Speculative developments are focusing on resiliency with smaller footprints and adapt- able layouts. ARCO adds value by getting involved early to guide design, manage costs, and deliver facilities that evolve with our clients’ long-term goals. What’s one major project, initiative, or innovation your firm is focused on in the months ahead? Our focus remains on helping clients grow their businesses and achieve long-term suc- cess. In the months ahead, we’re partnering on a wide range of projects nationwide, including a widebody aircraft hangar, an immersive retail concept for a national brand, and a beverage distribution center for the nation’s largest soft drink company. We’re grateful for the continued trust our clients place in us.
Brandon Carr, PE Principal DiPrete Engineering
What trends or shifts do you see shaping your industry this fall and into 2026? We are positioning our firm to be a leader in data center design. Revenue from our Mission Critical Practice alone has grown by 130% in under two years. Opening a new office in Dallas and hiring subject matter experts from an experienced practice lead- er to several principals and staff members allowed Ci to become known for technical excellence, speed to market and deep client trust in this market. We’re continuing to ex- pand our Mission Critical team, offices and project opportunities, and looking forward to growing our footprint both nationally and internationally. What are you most excited about for the future of your sector? We’re excited to see continued growth in our Science & Technology Practice, specifically in the number of pharmaceutical projects, from large-scale, ground-up facili- ties to renovations and tenant fit-outs. Ci is actively looking to hire a healthcare practice leader who brings a deep understanding of healthcare operations so our firm can expand our portfolio to hospitals, clinics, medical offices, and other health-related environ - ments. In our Mixed-Use & Residential Practice, we’re excited to see several large- scale mixed-use districts and multi-family developments move forward.
What trends or shifts do you see shaping your industry this fall and into 2026? Things are shifting fast. Recent policy moves in Washington have disrupted many green energy projects, forcing clients to
What trends or shifts do you see shaping your industry this fall and into 2026? This fall, we’re seeing a clear shift toward smarter collaboration between developers and build- ers – where early integration and transparent budgeting matter more than ever. The pace Stephen Callahan Vice President - Business Development Callahan Inc.
Jason Grant President ARCO National Construction | N.E.
Jake Chace Project Executive Erland Construction
What’s one major project, initiative, or innovation your firm is focused on in the months ahead? Erland, in partnership
What trends or shifts do you see shaping your industry this fall and into 2026? We’re seeing more owners and developers
2025 FALL PREVIEW
46 October 31, 2025
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator