Innovation and entrepreneurship are driving growth.

“Expansions in the Cortex Innovation Community, including recent projects at 4340 Duncan and 4220 Duncan, and the 39 North AgTech Innovation District are leading this charge,” he says. “The AEC community is also eager to hear updates on the modernization and new terminal development project coming to Lambert International Airport.” 

Rising interest rates are fueling growth for now as the industry addresses other hurdles. “Private developers are eyeing new work and looking to get ahead of rises in interest rates,” Arzano says. “Right now, it’s a balancing act with supply chain issues and worker shortages impacting the system, but the AEC community is seeing lots of progress and new developments in the works.”