As for design trends, the post-pandemic focus on wellness and biophilic design that seeks to connect people with nature and incorporate organic forms and materials into designs, remains popular. With prolonged “uncertainty” over interest rates and the high cost of borrowing, renovating is becoming more favorable than building, he says, especially for existing higher education projects that are more sustainable to renovate than to rebuild. 

While subcontractors are more available, bidding can be volatile with more selective subcontractor bidding, he says. 

Based on its lower cost of living, “we expect Harrisburg, and south central Pennsylvania overall, to continue to experience slow but steady growth,” Hallacher says.