Weekly Briefing: March 27, 2026
- Mar 27
- 5 min read
Week of March 23, 2026
Builders Back Broad Housing Reform Bill but Raise Concerns Over Key Provisions
Builders broadly support the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which aims to expand housing supply and affordability through program expansions, pilot efforts, and reduced regulatory barriers. The Senate passed the bill 89-9 earlier this month, positioning it as what could become the largest legislative housing-supply package in decades if enacted.
Industry support is not uniform, with homebuilding groups pushing to revise the bill’s build-to-rent language, including a provision requiring institutional investors owning at least 350 single-family homes to sell new properties to individuals within seven years.
Trade groups argue that the build-to-rent requirement could disrupt investment and housing production. The National Multifamily Housing Council said the timeline would be difficult to execute for single-platted properties, while the National Association of Home Builders warned the provision could materially reduce rental-housing investment and cut single-family output by nearly 40,000 units per year.
The bill’s treatment of manufactured and modular housing is also drawing scrutiny. While builders generally support provisions intended to remove barriers and expand housing supply, modular housing advocates want clearer distinctions between manufactured and modular homes, arguing that consumer confusion around durability, energy performance, and code standards remains a significant concern.
Construction Starts Fall Sharply in February as January Megaproject Momentum Fades
Total construction starts fell 13.2% month over month in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.08 trillion, as a pullback in nonbuilding activity reversed the momentum seen at the start of the year, according to Dodge Construction Network. The decline followed a January boost driven by unusually large energy-related projects.
The February slowdown was largely tied to the disappearance of January megaprojects, including a $12 billion LNG project in Port Arthur, Texas, and a $6 billion energy campus in Homer City, Pennsylvania. Construction Dive reports that nonbuilding starts dropped 49.4% for the month, while electric power and utility work fell 90.1%, normalizing after an outsized January surge.
Outside of nonbuilding, activity was stronger. Nonresidential building starts rose 17.8% in February, and residential starts increased 8.3%, with commercial work lifted by a 48.5% jump led by office and data center projects, while multifamily starts outpaced single-family growth on the residential side.
Even with some large projects breaking ground in February, weakness persisted across several categories. Manufacturing starts fell 54.1%, healthcare dropped 46.6%, and warehouse, hotel, retail, and parking also declined, underscoring that recent headline growth has been uneven and still heavily dependent on a narrow set of major projects.
March 16, 2026
Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group (Provost & Pritchard), a California-based engineering firm that provides a diverse range of services, including site civil engineering, agricultural solutions, water resources and environmental consulting, structural engineering, and construction management, has acquired Pezzoni Engineering, a California-based electrical engineering firm that specializes in power distribution, lighting design, information technology systems, and communication systems. This acquisition enables Provost & Pritchard to expand its electrical engineering offerings and deliver more integrated solutions to its client base. Ronald J. Samuelian, President and CEO of Provost & Pritchard, said, “Kevin Pezzoni and the team have been providing quality electrical engineering services to a wide range of clients and projects for decades. We have had the opportunity to work closely with them for years and are thrilled to have them join our team to better meet our clients’ needs.”
March 23, 2026
Kimley-Horn, a North Carolina-based planning and design consulting firm, has acquired RGD Consulting Engineers (RGD), a Florida-based mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and structural engineering services firm. This acquisition enhances Kimley-Horn’s MEP services and strengthens its presence in Florida, while also providing RGD with additional resources to grow team opportunities and deliver solutions to clients at greater capacity. “RGD strengthens our building services capabilities and adds an experienced team with a long track record of quality,” commented David Walthall, Principal at Kimley-Horn. “This acquisition supports integrated delivery for clients who need strong technical depth and dependable project execution.”
March 23, 2026
Baxter & Woodman, an Illinois-based infrastructure planning, design, and construction services firm, has acquired Goodson Bergen & Associates (GBA), a Florida-based engineering firm. This strategic move enhances Baxter & Woodman’s capabilities and strengthens its regional presence in Florida. Lou Haussmann, President and CEO of Baxter & Woodman, stated, “Goodson Bergen & Associates is a highly respected firm with a strong reputation for client service and technical excellence. Our shared values and employee-owned structure make this a natural fit, and we are excited to provide their clients with expanded resources while preserving the relationships and responsiveness they value. Our goal is not to change GBA, but to support their team and enhance the services they deliver to clients.”
March 25, 2026
Clearlake Capital Group (Clearlake), a California-based global alternative asset manager, has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Qualus, a Florida-based pure-play power solutions firm focused on the nation’s grid infrastructure transformation. This partnership allows Clearlake to support Qualus through investment in its growth and specialized services, further strengthening the firm’s ability to address increasing demand across the power sector. "Today marks an exciting milestone in Qualus' journey," expressed Greg Herasymuik, CEO of Qualus. "Qualus has established itself as a premier power solutions platform, providing specialized advisory, engineering, and field services to the power grid. The partnership with Clearlake brings strategic backing to further scale our capabilities and support our clients as they navigate increasingly complex operational requirements. We remain focused on our mission to ensure the long-term integrity and performance of the nation's critical power infrastructure."s from the outset, helping clients manage risk, control costs, and accelerate delivery.”
March 25, 2026
Blew & Associates (Blew), an Arkansas-based civil engineering, land surveying, and environmental firm, has acquired Jorgensen + Associates, an Arkansas-based engineering and surveying firm. This acquisition enables Jorgensen + Associates to take on larger projects and offer expanded services with the support of a national platform, while strengthening Blew’s ability to serve clients across the full project lifecycle, from initial acquisition and due diligence through engineering design and construction. “We are proud to welcome Jorgensen + Associates to the Blew family,” said Buckley Blew, CEO of Blew. “For more than 41 years, the firm has built a strong reputation for quality and integrity under the leadership of its founder, Dave Jorgensen. Dave has also been a personal mentor to me throughout my career, and I have long admired the culture and reputation he created.”
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is launching the 2026 Design for All Partnership, an annual pro bono program that provides $20,000 in architectural and interior design consultation services to a nonprofit organization in Austin, Houston, or the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The program aims to support community-driven organizations whose missions could be strengthened through improved space planning and design.
The partnership is structured to provide early-stage design guidance that can inform decision-making around space use, project feasibility, and future development. Depending on the selected organization’s needs, the work may involve site analysis, feasibility studies, master planning, conceptual design, or interior design consultation. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits located within 50 miles of one of the three metro areas, and the selected organization will receive a defined set of deliverables aligned with its operational goals, helping to clarify next steps for potential capital projects or spatial improvements.
The EFCG Weekly Briefing summarizes the week’s key news in the AEC industry, including M&A updates, and micro- and macro-trends, aggregated from industry-focused and global news sources.
To send any additional press releases or news from your firm that you would like us to share please email Clay Han at chan@efcg.com.