Weekly Briefing: November 6, 2026
Week of November 2, 2026
Midterm Results Signal Longer Wait for Transportation Bill and Added Scrutiny for Data Centers
After Democrats won control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, industry sources expect a delay to federal surface transportation reauthorization and more scrutiny of data center construction. Congress faces a Dec. 11 deadline to pass either a short-term extension or the BUILD America 250 Act.
With newly elected members taking office in January, experts expect current lawmakers to extend existing transportation authorizations into 2027 rather than pass a new long-term bill. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) increased average annual federal highway and transit funding substantially, and experts note that funding has historically been maintained or increased regardless of party control.
Experts expect many planned data center projects to be postponed or slowed and say the election results make moratorium debates more likely in states such as Texas and Michigan. Still, they believe overall demand for data center construction will persist, though policy changes could add costs, delays, and uncertainty.
For AEC firms, a short-term extension may preserve near-term transportation funding but could leave state departments of transportation without the certainty needed to begin major projects. In the data center market, the passage of numerous local development restrictions during the midterm elections could lead to additional project delays and evolving regulatory requirements, even as the broader buildout is expected to continue.
Construction Spending Falls in September as Growth Narrows to Data Centers and Power
Construction spending fell 1.9% from August to September and 2.7% from September 2025, totaling a seasonally adjusted annual spending rate of $2.19 trillion, according to an Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Private nonresidential spending rose 1.1% for the month, but AGC said data centers and electric power accounted for all of the gains, while the remaining private nonresidential categories combined fell 7.8% year over year.
Data center construction spending surged 90% year over year, while private electric power investment increased 14%. Meanwhile, private residential construction declined 8.9% year over year, with single-family construction down 2.4%.
Public spending held up better, rising 1.0% year over year, led by highway and street construction at 3.5% above its September 2025 level.
AGC said strong demand for data centers and power projects is hiding weakness in other sectors while adding to cost and supply chain pressures tied to tariffs and global conflicts. For AEC firms, growth concentrated in a narrow set of markets may mean softer demand elsewhere, particularly for firms with limited exposure to data center and power work.
October 29, 2026
Englobe, a Canada-based multidisciplinary engineering and environmental services firm, and subsidiary of global real estate and investment management firm Colliers, has entered into an agreement to acquire Obsidian Engineering (Obsidian), a Canada-based multidisciplinary engineering firm specializing in engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for private sector clients in the energy industry. This acquisition adds over 400 professionals and expands Englobe’s engineering and project delivery capabilities in Western Canada. “Expanding Englobe’s position in Western Canada is a central part of our regional growth strategy. Obsidian adds meaningful scale and multidisciplinary engineering and project delivery expertise, strengthening our ability to serve clients and pursue increasingly complex opportunities across the region,” said Mike Cormier, President of Englobe.
October 29, 2026
M Group, a United Kingdom-based infrastructure services firm, backed by CVC Capital Partners, has acquired HVSS, a United Kingdom-based independent connection provider (ICP) specializing in the design and delivery of high voltage electrical connections and multi-utility infrastructure. This acquisition strengthens M Group’s Energy Infrastructure business and adds expertise in high-voltage engineering, multi-utility connections, and private electricity network development in the UK connections market. “This acquisition is great news for M Group, HVSS, and our clients. It materially strengthens our capabilities in the high-voltage connections market at a critical time in the UK’s energy transition, and means we can offer our clients a broader range of services to meet their strategic needs,” said Andrew Findlay, Chief Executive of M Group.
November 2, 2026
Terracon, a Kansas-based engineering consulting firm, has acquired Marx Okubo Associates (Marx Okubo), a Colorado-based architecture, engineering, and construction consulting firm specializing in property due diligence, building assessment, and owner’s representation services for real estate owners, investors, and lenders. This acquisition strengthens Terracon’s Facilities practice, adding 200 employees and expanding its services across a broad range of asset types. “Marx Okubo is known for working with clients at every point in the project lifecycle to help them make the most informed decisions. We are delighted to add their capabilities to Terracon’s services for clients across the U.S.,” said Gayle Packer, Chair, President, and CEO of Terracon.
November 3, 2026
AtkinsRéalis Group (AtkinsRéalis), a Canada-based engineering services and nuclear firm, has acquired the remaining equity interest in David Evans Enterprises (David Evans), an Oregon-based professional services consulting firm specializing in design for transportation, land development, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure projects. This acquisition, which follows AtkinsRéalis’ purchase of a 70% majority interest in David Evans in April 2025, advances its U.S. growth platform and accelerates integration and collaboration between the two firms. “Since AtkinsRéalis first invested in David Evans, our teams have developed a deeper understanding of our complementary capabilities and identified new opportunities to work together,” said Ian L. Edwards, President and CEO of AtkinsRéalis. “Acquiring the remaining ownership interest is a natural next step that reflects our confidence in David Evans people, capabilities, and client relationships.”
November 5, 2026
BKF, a California-based multidisciplinary civil engineering firm, backed by Long Point Capital, has acquired Waterways Consulting (Waterways), a California-based water resource engineering firm that performs ecological restoration and nature-based design. This acquisition expands BKF’s ecological restoration and water resilience capabilities and strengthens its ability to deliver integrated, watershed-scale solutions across California and the Pacific Northwest. “Our clients are increasingly looking for integrated solutions to address their most complex environmental and water resilience challenges. By bringing Waterways’ talented team and specialized expertise into BKF, we can deliver even greater value throughout the entire project lifecycle,” said Darren Riegler, President and CEO of BKF. “We’re also excited about the opportunities this creates for our people to learn from one another, collaborate across disciplines, and continue growing together.”
Colliers Engineering & Design brought employees, supporters, and community members together for its Third Annual Foundation 5K on October 17, 2026, raising more than $60,000 with more than 100 participants joining in person and virtually. Held at Cameron Run Regional Park in Alexandria, Virginia, this year’s event supported the American Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), helping the organization expand access to breast cancer screening, diagnostic services, education, and patient navigation. The race was made possible by employee volunteers and a range of corporate, family, and individual sponsors. The Foundation 5K is part of the firm’s broader commitment to giving back to the communities where its employees live and work.
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 Fatima Moumen at fmoumen@efcg.com.
