In this year-end episode, the Conspectus team (David Stutzman, Elias Saltz and Steve Gantner) reflect on the signals, surprises, and steady momentum that defined 2025 while looking ahead to what 2026 may hold. Despite mixed economic indicators, Steve & Elias observed increased proposal activity, strong demand in sectors like data centers, logistics, healthcare, and multifamily housing, and a continued rise in design-build delivery.

Conferences—particularly DBIA (Design Build Institute of America) —highlighted growing industry alignment around early collaboration, UNIFORMAT-based thinking, and clearer documentation of design intent. The conversation also underscored the importance of people: emerging professionals, cross-discipline partnerships, and a shared commitment to strengthening the specification community so projects better serve owners’ goals and business cases.

Learning Points

• Market signals don’t tell the whole story: Even with a negative ABI (Architectural Billing Index), proposal requests and active projects increased across several sectors.
• Design-build continues to gain traction: Growth in DBIA membership and RFPs (request for proposals) reflects a broader shift toward earlier contractor involvement and cost-informed design decisions.
• Early communication protects design intent: Regular design updates paired with contractor feedback help maintain alignment between intent, budget, and constructability.
• Next-generation talent is a bright spot: Students and young professionals are entering the industry with curiosity, advocacy, and a desire to improve how buildings are delivered—not just designed.
• Specifications are expanding in scope and influence: Adding engineering expertise and strategic partners enables more comprehensive, coordinated, and current project documentation.
• Collaboration reduces downstream risk: Contractor-driven requests around BABAA (Build America, Buy America Act) compliance revealed the need to address regulatory and sourcing requirements earlier in the process.
• A connected community is the goal for 2026: Stronger relationships among owners, designers, contractors, specifiers, and manufacturers lead to better outcomes—and better repeat projects