Midwest’s design companies go horseback long after a good year by 2024, but they are attentive to rates, increasing prices and other economic uncertainties that can attenuate the perspectives of 2025 and beyond.
The Higher Ranking of the Enr Midwest Design Firm obtained shipments from 118 companies, which reported a total of $ 10.51 billion in revenue by 2024 compared to the income of $ 9.14 billion reported from 114 companies for 2023.
Public and private sectors
Both private and public sectors promote business for Indianapolis-based American structure.
“An important part of our business is still promoted by the financing of public transport provided by the Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) infrastructure, promulgated in November 2021,” says Steve Davidson, the company’s chief manager and partner.
“Another factors driving business is the high -tech industrial market,” he adds. “This is based on a national approach to returning the manufacture to the US facilities and the creation of microchips and semiconductors, especially in Indiana, Ohio and Texas.”
HNTB, based in Kansas City, Mo., is also promoting the impulse, promoted by “fast advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence and the increasing use of data analytics. [that are] Respecting how communities plan, deliver and operate their transport networks, “says Mike Inabinet, Central Regional President.
It also points to a strong activity in the road sector, which focuses on the modernization and improvement of aging corridors.
“Business diversity in our strategic sectors helps us to navigate fluctuations in the economy.”
—Bob Pavlicek, COO, Central Operational Group, Terracon
“This has opened a discussion of new ways to bring road design to make the more resistant and sustainable ones,” he says. “It includes a more holistic approach in terms of modernized roads, which includes not only a approach to connectivity and mobility, but also in how they can better support regional economic development efforts while connecting communities.”
Bob Pavlicek, operational director of the Central Operational Group of Terracon, based in Olathe, KAN, says that the engineering consulting industry for environmental services is also occupied, driven by the needs of customers to reduce carbon footprints, manage natural resources and ensure compliance with environmental rules.
“Business diversity in our strategic sectors helps us to navigate fluctuations in the economy,” he says.
While the transport and architecture sectors are flourishing, Davidson says: “The federal sector is a little slower due to the uncertainties that surround federal funding for agencies such as the General Services Administration and the administration of veterans.
“Financing of the defense project will remain strong, but the questions persist on the federal funding of other programs and capital,” adds Davidson.
American Structurepoint provides architectural design services for a $ 12 million club and an event center on Parma’s Ridgewood Golf Course, Ohio.
Photo courtesy of American Structurepoint
Extension of the scope
For the last two years, Terracon has expanded its experience and geographical presence through strategic acquisitions, including adding PMI and Harbor, both based in Arkansas.
These acquisitions have improved terracon’s skills in various areas: environmental evaluations, remediation, permission, regulatory compliance, health and safety, environmental perforation, sustainability consulting, archeological and cultural resource management, architectural history and geoarchaeology, according to Pavlicek.
American Structurepoint has also grown. He opened a new design center in Akron, Ohio, in December 2024, and is currently looking for office spaces in the Dallas area.
“We are expanding our services, both in existing locations and in new geographical areas, in particular those with increasing populations,” says Davidson. “We are expanding to improve our portfolio, expand our geographical reach and strengthen our base for future success.”
The company aims to grow between 10% and 15% in 2025 to meet the need for the market for technical, engineering, architecture and field staff, according to Davidson.
Opportunities
HNTB considers an increasing demand related to how to use digital data and technology to transform how infrastructure systems are managed and operated, including decision -making support systems, digital twins, business data strategies, advanced mobility plans, traffic automation systems, advanced systems and revenue systems, weight technologies, car parking solutions, AI-Division Driving Strategies.
“This digital transformation is essential to offering safer, more efficient and more resistant infrastructures for the future,” says Inabinet.
Looking forward
Increasing costs is a challenge that all companies face.
“There is a concern about increasing construction goods costs due to the high volume of imports and uncertainty on how these prices will affect,” says Davidson.
It anticipates that as the price of the project components increases, some owners will postpone the work.
“We have seen some projects promoted in Indiana, Texas and other states due to budget problems,” says Davidson.
Adds that the company has “silenced” the concern for the federal manner of staff [reductions] It will affect projects.
“Federal transport projects can face strict time restrictions on the use of assigned funds or aids, requiring that the construction stages begin in specific deadlines to avoid losing funding,” he says.
Despite these concerns, design companies have hope. “Our perspective is a bit guarded, but it is still positive,” says Davidson. “We see in 2025 as a strong year of growth for us, but perhaps not as robust as in 2024 due to inflation and continuous economic uncertainty.”
