2026 Mid-Year Review: Dan McKnight, ARCO National Construction | New England

What projects, initiatives, or types of work have been keeping your team busiest during the first half of 2026?
The first half of 2026 has been defined by strong activity across several sectors rather than any single project type. Industrial remains an important part of our pipeline, but we have also seen growing demand for aviation facilities, tenant improvements, and multifamily and adaptive reuse opportunities throughout the region, as well as nationwide. Many of these projects are being driven by owners looking to improve operations, attract tenants, or create spaces that better support end users. The diversity of work has kept our team busy while providing opportunities to apply our experience across a broad range of project types and client needs.

What trends or shifts have stood out most to you so far this year within your industry?
One trend we’ve seen gain momentum is the shift toward greater flexibility in how sites and facilities are planned. Rather than designing properties for a single user, many owners and developers are evaluating how sites can accommodate multiple buildings, multiple tenants, or future expansion opportunities. This approach helps reduce risk and create long-term value. As a result, we’re seeing increased emphasis on conceptual site planning early in the process, with owners wanting to understand how different layouts, infrastructure requirements, and growth scenarios can impact a site’s potential before making major investment decisions. Flexibility and adaptability are becoming key drivers of development strategy across New England.

What challenges or opportunities have had the biggest impact on your business during the first half of 2026?
The biggest opportunity for our team has been helping clients navigate an increasingly complex development environment. While demand remains strong across several sectors, owners are placing greater scrutiny on project costs, schedules, and return on investment before moving forward. That creates an opportunity for design-build teams to add value early by identifying potential risks, evaluating alternatives, and improving project certainty before construction begins. The challenge is balancing speed-to-market with careful planning, particularly as entitlement requirements, infrastructure considerations, and economic factors continue to influence project decisions. Clients are looking for partners who can provide strategic guidance in addition to project execution, and that has become an increasingly important part of our role.

As we look ahead to the second half of the year, what are you watching most closely?
As we look toward the second half of the year, we’re paying close attention to the factors that influence project feasibility and development timelines. Utility capacity, entitlement processes, and infrastructure availability continue to shape where and how projects move forward across New England. We’re also watching how capital markets impact development decisions and whether owners continue prioritizing renovations, repositioning efforts, and strategic site selection alongside new ground-up opportunities. Together, these factors will provide important insight into how the New England market evolves through the remainder of 2026.