The company, which was founded in 1923, has 4,500 employees and a long history in the state.

Indianapolis and surrounding communities have experienced strong growth in recent years, bringing a wave of publicly funded projects that include parks and recreation facilities, police and fire stations, parking garages and major infrastructure improvements, she says.

But a new state law—Senate Enrolled Act 1—may affect future projects.

“A major topic across the AEC community right now is how SEA 1 will reshape how local governments fund infrastructure and capital projects,” Burns says.

The law, which takes effect this year, is primarily a property tax relief package for homeowners and some businesses. However, it requires certain debt-funded projects to obtain petitions or voter referendums if tax-backed debt exceeds specified thresholds.

“The question everyone is asking is: With SEA 1’s changes to local revenue and tax structures, will communities continue to invest at the same level?” Burns says. “That uncertainty is influencing how municipalities plan future projects and how contractors anticipate public-sector opportunities.”

An example of a new recreational project that received public funds is in the nearby city of Fishers, Ind., which opened the 120-acre Fishers White River Park in December 2025.

The park features more than 5,000 ft of riverfront access along with 2.45 miles of trails, including trail connectivity to Fishers Heritage Park at White River. The park also features a kayak launch, native plantings and two scenic overlook boardwalks. In 2022, $4.7 million in READI 1.0 funds were granted for construction of the park through the Indiana Economic Development Corp., which is seeking to attract investment and enhance local communities.

Another major topic is the rise of data center development.

“Indiana has already attracted hyperscale investment, and the Indianapolis region is now seeing its own pipeline of projects—some active, others still navigating approvals and infrastructure questions,” she says. “The industry is especially focused on the labor implications, since data centers require intense, fast-paced staffing that can pull skilled trades away from other sectors.”

A Meta data center campus broke ground in Lebanon, Ind., about 30 miles from Indianapolis in February. It is expected to encompass 4 million sq ft across at least 11 buildings on a 1,500-acre campus.

Google had proposed a data center campus on about 460 acres in Franklin Township, which is part of Indianapolis. Residents raised concerns about water and power use, environmental impacts, traffic and noise. Google withdrew its zoning request in September 2025.

Burns says the AEC market overall is shifting toward smaller jobs.

Source: Dodge Data & Analytics

“Project sizes are trending smaller, with fewer megaprojects in recent years, and competition is increasing as contractors from slower regions enter the market,” she says.

One project F.A. Wilhelm is working on is the Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, known as IU LAB. The facility is Indiana University’s new biosciences research and innovation center being built in the 16 Tech Innovation District in downtown Indianapolis. The five-story building will feature limestone, brick and glass.

“It is designed to position Indiana as a national leader in life sciences discovery, commercialization and talent development,” Burns says.

Looking forward to 2026 and beyond, Burns is upbeat.

“The next year is likely to continue with [the current] pattern: a strong but competitive market with more right-sized projects and a premium on early collaboration and value-driven delivery,” she says.