The rankings of the regional design firm of ENR seem different this year after the consolidation of several editions of regional magazines in five new ones: Mountain States & Southwest, East, Midwest, Southeast & Texas and West. At the South Design Companies Survey of Opening Mountain Design Companies -93 companies reported $ 4.58 billion revenue for 2024.
Data centers and infrastructure to support them are maintained between the most active and rapid growth sectors in the region of seven states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
“Powered by the demand for cloud services, the capabilities of AI and digital connectivity, we are seeing a sustained investment not only in the facilities themselves, but also in the infrastructure of power, water and transport needed to support them,” says Brian Valentine, Senior Vice President of Kimley-Horn.
The first half of 2025 was tempered by the uncertainty in markets that are based on federal money. Brad Martin, Manager of Colorado for HDR, says that, while this anguish around federal dollars has improved, companies have seen a change in energy projects strategy. Specifically, he says, a large electricity sector project was presented as “the economy did not occur without federal funding”.
Denver City Council voted in June to spend up to $ 800 million on an equestrian center project in the National Western Center. The Perkins+Will project is expected to be complete by 2028.
PERKINS PERKINS+WILL CORTHAGE REPRESENTATION
While larger economic signals may fluctuate, many of the region’s design signature executives insist that their long -term customers’ commitment to growth reasons offers reasons of trust.
“Our economic prospects are determined by our customers, and this impulse is still strong,” says Valentine. “Through the Council, whether it be the public sector agencies or for the development of the private sector, we continue to undergo a constant investment in the infrastructure and systems that make up daily life. Whether it is the cities that advance capital improvement programs or developers that seek to meet commercial demand and housing, there is a clear line: the built environment is still a priority.”
Throughout this line, regional companies also see strength in sectors linked to population growth and economic expansion, such as mixed use development, logistics and public infrastructure. “Although no sector is immune to economic headers, we are currently not seeing significant regional decreases, only a change in pace as customers are emphasized in response to interest rates, regulatory deadlines or supply chain factors,” adds Valentine.
Future test
Although the shortage of design professionals entering the market is not a new problem, its impact is more pressing on the current competitive landscape, according to Valentine.
The family -focused design of Wasatch Canyon’s Health Hospital of Taylorsville’s primary children, Utah, will allow family members to stay overnight and actively engage in their child’s care.
“ The pipeline of emerging design professionals has not kept the demand of the demand driven by continuous growth and the complex needs of the project. Kimley-Horn is investing in strengthening academic collaborations, which will help us to attract talent. The challenge is real, but it is also the opportunity to rethink how we grow the next generation of designers, engineers and planners, ” he adds.
