“Major transportation initiatives, including the Brent Spence Companion Bridge program, along with the modernization and utility upgrades of the Duke Energy Convention Center, continue to support confidence across the regional AEC community,” Hopper says.

A groundbreaking is expected this spring for the $4.5-billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, which will include a new companion bridge west of the existing span. The companion bridge is planned as a double-decker structure featuring a cable-stayed design with independent decks.

Modernization and utility upgrades were central to the $264-million, 18-month renovation of the convention center, completed in December 2025. The project aims to transform the aging 55-year-old facility into a competitive, energy-efficient and technologically advanced venue.

The Marriott Convention Center Hotel Cincinnati, which will be adjacent to the convention center, is part of Cincinnati’s broader push to strengthen its hospitality and convention infrastructure, Hopper says.

“The city is in the middle of a major development cycle, with multiple high-profile hotel and mixed-use projects reshaping the downtown core. These projects reflect a regional strategy to support business travel, expand event capacity and elevate the downtown visitor experience,” he notes.

Plans for the 700-room hotel include a direct skybridge connection to the convention center. It is intended to serve as Cincinnati’s primary convention headquarters hotel and as a cornerstone of the city’s $828-million Convention District Revitalization Plan. Early site work is underway, with full construction slated for later this year.

In addition to the hotel, Hopper says his firm is supporting major development activity at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which he calls one of the region’s strongest economic engines. The airport recently launched a $220-million terminal overhaul to modernize passenger facilities, improve circulation and expand capacity.

The Findlay Community Center represents a major public investment in neighborhood amenities, delivering a new 65,000-sq-ft facility with expanded recreation, child care and community programming.

The region also is seeing continued growth in academic and research facilities, including the Northern Kentucky University Science Center expansion, which will consolidate programs and enhance laboratory capacity as part of a broader campus modernization effort. In the private sector, the Medpace N300 reflects the region’s expanding life sciences and biomedical development pipeline. At the University of Cincinnati, demolition of Crosley Tower and the planned construction of a new STEM facility reinforce a citywide trend of modernizing research and innovation infrastructure, an area that Hopper says continues to see significant capital investment across the Cincinnati area.

These investments are benefiting the Cincinnati market at a time when broader global uncertainty has made owners more cautious elsewhere. “While international volatility has affected materials pricing and logistics, major regional projects, such as the Brent Spence Companion Bridge program and the convention center modernization, have advanced into construction and completion, providing stability for the local market,” Hopper says.

Cincinnati’s construction market continues to outperform peer metro centers.

Construction employment in the Cincinnati area grew between 4.5% and 9.6% year over year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, while the Associated General Contractors of America reports an 11% annual increase.

“This reflects sustained demand rather than short-term volatility, with activity strongest in infrastructure, higher education, health care and specialized commercial sectors,” Hopper says.

While he is upbeat about the AEC industry, he acknowledges that there are hurdles.

“Cincinnati is one of the fastest-growing construction job markets in the country, and skilled labor shortages continue to influence schedules and delivery strategies,” he says.

“In this environment, robust forecasting tools and data-driven planning help teams anticipate pressure points early, while our strategic supply chain stays ahead of market shifts, pricing volatility and availability risks that could affect project outcomes,” he says.

Workforce pressures, amplified by global uncertainty, reinforce the need for early planning, workforce development and delivery approaches that reduce risk and improve predictability.

Looking ahead, Hopper says “the region appears positioned for measured, steady growth. Elevated borrowing costs have tempered speculative office and industrial development, but demand remains resilient for purpose driven facilities, public infrastructure, and modernization work.”