Engineering Influence from ACEC

The health care and science+technology market is undergoing profound change — not just in how care is delivered, but in the physical environments where it happens. From AI-powered research labs to rural hospital closures, the forces reshaping this $70 billion sector are creating both urgent challenges and significant opportunities for engineering and design firms. ACEC's Winter/Spring 2026 Market Intelligence Brief identifies five trends that will define the market in the years ahead. 

Download the Market Intelligence Brief: https://www.acec.org/resources/market-intelligence/

What does it take to grow a small regional engineering firm into a nationally recognized, private equity-backed water infrastructure platform — in just nine years?

In this episode of Engineering Influence, Ernesto Aguilar, CEO of Ardurra, takes us behind the scenes of one of the most intentional growth stories in the AEC industry. Ernesto walks through Ardura's evolution from its early days as a focused regional practice to a multi-market firm operating across what he calls the "Big Smile" markets — a strategic geographic arc where population growth, aging infrastructure, and capital investment are converging to create enormous demand for water-focused engineering services.

Ernesto speaks candidly about the discipline behind their selective M&A strategy — why they pass on deals that don't fit, what they look for in a cultural match, and how they structure integrations to make sure acquired firms don't lose what made them great in the first place. Central to that effort are employee councils, an internal mechanism Ardura uses to maintain connection, trust, and continuity as the firm scales.

The conversation also pulls back the curtain on what it's actually like to work with a private equity partner. Ernesto challenges some of the industry's assumptions about PE-backed firms, explaining how the right capital partner can accelerate mission-driven work rather than undermine it — and what engineering leaders should understand before entering that kind of relationship.

Beyond Ardura's own journey, Ernesto offers a broader perspective on the state of water infrastructure in America — the funding landscape, the urgency of reinvestment, and why the engineering profession must get better at communicating the value of its work. He makes a compelling case for advocacy and innovation as twin imperatives: that the firms and professionals who will define the next decade are those who not only deliver excellent technical work, but who actively shape the policy environment and public understanding around infrastructure investment.

Whether you're a firm leader thinking about growth strategy, an engineer curious about the PE landscape, or simply someone who cares about the future of water systems in this country, this episode is packed with insight.

Joe Bates, Senior Researcher at the ACEC Research Institute, sits down with WSVA-AM/FM Harrisonburg, VA Radio Station to discuss the engineering shortage that the U.S. faces.

In 2022 about 184,000 engineers retired or left while only 166,000 new engineers entered the workforce, creating an 18,000‑person shortfall.

The radio interview covers causes (retirements, career changes, and restrictive H‑1B visa caps that block many international graduates from staying), the economic impact on projects and companies, and solutions like boosting recruitment in K–12, updating university programs (including AI skills), and policy changes to retain trained international engineers.

How confident are engineering firm leaders heading into 2026? In this episode of the Engineering Influence Podcast, Jeff Urbanchuk sits down with Joe Bates, Senior Researcher at the ACEC Research Institute, to break down the findings from the newly released Q1 2026 Engineering Business Sentiment Report. This quarterly report captures insights from CEOs and senior executives at ACEC member firms across the country, offering a real-time look at engineering industry outlook, economic confidence, workforce trends, AI adoption, and federal policy impacts.

Key Topics Covered:

📈 Engineering Industry Outlook 2026 – Why firms are entering the year from a position of strength

💼 Business Sentiment & Economic Confidence – U.S. economy sentiment jumps 11 points to +45

👷 Workforce & Hiring Trends – 9 out of 10 firms still have open positions

💰 Wage Growth Trends – Compensation increases easing from double digits to 6–7%

🏛️ Federal Policy & Government Shutdown Risks – How funding uncertainty is impacting firm confidence

🤖 AI Adoption in Engineering Firms – Nearly half of firms now have an AI strategy in place

📐 Small vs. Large Firm AI Implementation – Why smaller firms may have competitive advantages

🚀 The Firm of the Future Initiative – New research on AI, workforce strategy, value-based pricing, and risk management

Learn more at www.acecresearchinstitute.org.

Download the Full Report: https://www.acec.org/resource/engineering-business-sentiment-q1-2026/

How is engineering evolving — and what does the future demand from today’s leaders? Host, Molly Tuttle is joined by Rodney Chester and Kathy Renzetti for an engaging Engineering Week discussion on resilience, mentorship, and the power of engineering to strengthen communities. From lessons learned to what’s next for the industry, this conversation highlights the people and purpose driving engineering forward.

From the devices in our pockets to the bridges we drive across, from clean water systems to lifesaving medical innovations, engineering touches every part of our lives. That’s why each year, Engineers Week is a time to celebrate the people who make all this possible—and to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers.

This year’s theme, Transform Your Future, is a powerful reminder that engineering doesn’t just shape our world—it shapes our opportunities, our communities, and the futures we can imagine for ourselves and our children. Check out ACEC's resources and toolkit to celebrate Engineers Week: https://www.acec.org/news/engineers-week-2026/

In this episode of the Market Edge podcast, we connect the dots between policy, planning, engineering, and financing to reveal what it truly takes to build resilient communities in an era of growing risk.

Our conversation explores how public and private sector leaders can collaborate to reduce vulnerability before disaster strikes. We dive into the role engineers play not just in rebuilding after crises—but in shaping smarter systems, influencing policy, and guiding investments that strengthen communities for the long term.

Brock Storrusten and Dennis Boone join ACEC’s Engineering Influence to explore how AI and large language models are rapidly transforming the AEC industry—and what engineering firms can do right now to adopt these tools responsibly. In this episode, they break down the real-world opportunities AI presents, from streamlining marketing automation to leveraging existing tools for everyday workflows.

They also dive into the critical safeguards firms need in place, including data classification, governance frameworks, risk management strategies, and vendor vetting to ensure sensitive information stays protected.

Listeners will walk away with clear, actionable guidance on how to get started: develop practical AI usage policies, begin with small-scale pilots using public or enterprise tools, and gradually integrate internal data in a secure, structured way to unlock long-term productivity and innovation across the engineering profession.

In this episode of the Engineering Influence podcast, we sit down with Betsy Bond from Prosci to discuss the importance of good change management in the AEC industry. In today’s rapidly evolving engineering landscape, even the best technical solutions can fall short if organizations struggle to adopt and sustain change.

Leaders need the skills to guide teams through transitions, reduce resistance, and ensure new processes, technologies, and strategies deliver their intended value.

ACEC is excited to partner with Prosci to offer their Change Management Certification Program, a world-class, immersive learning experience designed to equip engineering professionals with the tools, expertise, and ongoing support needed to lead successful organizational change.

Learn More & Register Now: https://www.acec.org/education-events/education/online-education/prosci-change-management-certification/

In this episode, Diana O’Lare sits down with Phil Crone, Vice President of State and Regulatory Affairs at Leading Builders of America, for an in-depth conversation on the U.S. housing affordability crisis—and what political and regulatory hurdles exist.

Together, they unpack the real-world challenges driving up costs and limiting supply, including permitting delays and the need for reform, the growing burden of regulatory and compliance costs, and how factors like institutional buyers and workforce shortages are reshaping the housing market. They also explore the evolving role of energy efficiency requirements, as well as the design, infrastructure, and construction innovations that could help accelerate production and expand access to more attainable homes.

Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the policies and solutions that can help make housing more affordable for more Americans.

On this episode of the Engineering Influence Podcast, host Diana O’Lare sits down with Peter Nabhan to explore how artificial intelligence—particularly GPU-driven workloads—is reshaping the future of data center development. As AI adoption accelerates, demand for power is surging, fueling the rise of massive, campus-scale data center projects across the U.S.

The conversation dives into the evolving strategies of hyperscalers and co-location providers, the growing strain on the electric grid, and the increasing role of on-site power generation. Diana and Peter also unpack the critical engineering challenges around cooling, water usage, and sustainability, while spotlighting the top U.S. markets seeing the most rapid growth.

Finally, they tackle the big question facing the industry: Are we heading toward an oversupply of data centers—or is this simply the next major technology cycle transforming the built environment?

Read the Market Intelligence Data Brief: https://www.acec.org/resource/special-edition-data-centers-market-intelligence-brief-fall-2025/