{"id":65622,"date":"2008-07-08T16:23:52","date_gmt":"2008-07-08T16:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/article\/switching-gears_o"},"modified":"2008-07-08T16:23:52","modified_gmt":"2008-07-08T16:23:52","slug":"switching-gears_o","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/projects\/infrastructure\/switching-gears_o\/","title":{"rendered":"Switching Gears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"image-carousel\"\n\trole=\"region\"\n\taria-roledescription=\"carousel\"\n\taria-label=\"Image carousel\"\n\tdata-total-slides=\"3\"\n\t>\n\n\t<div class=\"image-carousel-top\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"carousel-counter\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"current-index\">1<\/span>\n\t\t\tof\t\t\t<span class=\"total-count\">3<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"image-carousel__hero-wrapper\">\n\t\t<button class=\"carousel-prev\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Previous slide\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"carousel-main\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-slide active\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-slide-0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-roledescription=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Slide 1 of 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"false\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Load the first image immediately at full size -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?w=263\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg 300w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=215,300 215w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=263,367 263w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=127,177 127w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=82,114 82w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=94,131 94w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"From left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-caption=\"From left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-slide hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-slide-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-roledescription=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Slide 2 of 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Lazy load other main images with data-src to be loaded only when needed -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?w=200\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg 200w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?resize=150,114 150w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?resize=172,131 172w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"A steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"lazy-load-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-caption=\"A steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-slide hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-slide-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-roledescription=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Slide 3 of 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Lazy load other main images with data-src to be loaded only when needed -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?w=300\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg 300w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?resize=209,177 209w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?resize=135,114 135w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?resize=155,131 155w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Helping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"lazy-load-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-caption=\"Helping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<button class=\"carousel-next\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Next slide\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"carousel-captions-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption active\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-caption-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"image-caption\" data-full-caption=\"From left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caption-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engine&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"read-more-toggle\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"caption-full-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span id=\"caption-full-0\" class=\"full-caption hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-caption-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"image-caption\" data-full-caption=\"A steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caption-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"read-more-toggle\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"caption-full-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span id=\"caption-full-1\" class=\"full-caption hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-caption-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"image-caption\" data-full-caption=\"Helping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caption-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departm&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"read-more-toggle\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"caption-full-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span id=\"caption-full-2\" class=\"full-caption hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"carousel-thumbnails-wrapper\" role=\"tablist\" aria-label=\"Thumbnail navigation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"carousel-thumbnails\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"thumbnail-wrapper active\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Go to slide 1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"carousel-slide-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;crop=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"thumbnail-wrapper \"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Go to slide 2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"carousel-slide-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;crop=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"thumbnail-wrapper \"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Go to slide 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"carousel-slide-3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;crop=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\r<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Click here for a look at our top <b>50 AEC firms<\/b> (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/pwmag.com\/images\/033_PW0708.PDF\">1-25<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/pwmag.com\/images\/034_PW0708.PDF\">26-50<\/a>)<\/i><\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter what happens, we&#8217;re all in this together.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s the theme of our fourth annual survey on the use of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we e-mailed our questionnaire to readers in March, housing starts were at a 17-year low, down nearly 12% from February. Traditionally, the public market feels the affects of economic slowdowns several years after the fact; and, true to form, property and sales tax revenues are falling.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis hasn&#8217;t happened in more than 15 years,\u201d says Michael Pagano, interim dean of the college of urban planning and public affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago. \u201cRevenues are beginning to slow very rapidly, and all of these bills are starting to pile up.\u201d<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this recession comes with a twist: a dramatic increase in the price of construction materials.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeginning with the steel price spike in 2004, costs have been rising at twice the rate of the consumer price index (CPI),\u201d says Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America. From December 2003 to March 2008, the CPI went up 16%, but the producer price index (PPI) for input to construction industries rose 34%, the highway and street PPI jumped to 56%, and the heavy construction index increased to 49%.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe economy is gradually going to pick up over the next several quarters, but we won&#8217;t see that in public works construction because of the lag in revenues and contract awarding,\u201d Simonson says. \u201cHigher materials costs will be the order of the day for the next several years.\u201d<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decrease in demand and the increase in prices explain why fewer contracts for new infrastructure are being let.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simonson also theorizes that bids came in above anticipated levels, \u201cso by the fourth year of a plan or bond issue, the money isn&#8217;t there. We&#8217;ve seen many projects scaled back, deferred, or canceled because of that.\u201d<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These dynamics are changing both the types of projects managers are letting and how those projects are managed.<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>NEW PROJECTS, NEW PRIORITIES<\/b>\r <\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although our surveys have always shown how much public works relies on AEC firms for design, departments are increasingly using the firms for planning and building as well.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the past, agencies might have hired these firms simply for one purpose,\u201d says Mark Bridgers, a consultant with management consulting firm FMI Corp. \u201cBut now there&#8217;s more design-construct and plan-construct.\u201d<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What&#8217;s driving that change is lack of resources: Firms are looking for ways to collapse planning and construction into a single contract to more easily manage projects, and their public clients\u2014relying more on outside sources because the average project has grown in size and complexity and has to be built faster\u2014are accepting that change because they&#8217;re dealing with fewer resources themselves.<\/p>\r<\/div> \r<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\r \r<\/p>\r\r\r <!--nextpage-->\n\n<div class=\"image-carousel\"\n\trole=\"region\"\n\taria-roledescription=\"carousel\"\n\taria-label=\"Image carousel\"\n\tdata-total-slides=\"3\"\n\t>\n\n\t<div class=\"image-carousel-top\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"carousel-counter\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"current-index\">1<\/span>\n\t\t\tof\t\t\t<span class=\"total-count\">3<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"image-carousel__hero-wrapper\">\n\t\t<button class=\"carousel-prev\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Previous slide\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"carousel-main\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-slide active\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-slide-0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-roledescription=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Slide 1 of 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"false\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Load the first image immediately at full size -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?w=263\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg 300w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=215,300 215w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=263,367 263w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=127,177 127w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=82,114 82w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?resize=94,131 94w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"From left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-caption=\"From left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-slide hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-slide-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-roledescription=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Slide 2 of 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Lazy load other main images with data-src to be loaded only when needed -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?w=200\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg 200w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?resize=150,114 150w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?resize=172,131 172w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"A steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"lazy-load-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-caption=\"A steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-slide hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-slide-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-roledescription=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Slide 3 of 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Lazy load other main images with data-src to be loaded only when needed -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?w=300\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg 300w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?resize=209,177 209w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?resize=135,114 135w, https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?resize=155,131 155w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Helping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"lazy-load-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-caption=\"Helping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<button class=\"carousel-next\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Next slide\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"carousel-captions-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption active\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-caption-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"image-caption\" data-full-caption=\"From left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caption-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engine&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"read-more-toggle\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"caption-full-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span id=\"caption-full-0\" class=\"full-caption hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom left: Project Manager Michael Crino of Michael Baker Engineering Inc. worked with Deputy Project Manager Magdalena Maliszewska and Project Manager Michael Padillo of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to map one of the most complex sewer systems in the nation. Photo: Ken Gabrielsen\/Getty Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-caption-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"image-caption\" data-full-caption=\"A steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caption-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"read-more-toggle\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"caption-full-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span id=\"caption-full-1\" class=\"full-caption hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA steady partnership \nThe percentage of departments that use AEC firms remains high. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption hidden\"\n\t\t\t\t\tid=\"carousel-caption-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-caption__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"image-caption\" data-full-caption=\"Helping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caption-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departm&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"read-more-toggle\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"caption-full-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span id=\"caption-full-2\" class=\"full-caption hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelping out \nEconomic developments affect which projects departments pursue. Source: PUBLIC WORKS\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"carousel-thumbnails-wrapper\" role=\"tablist\" aria-label=\"Thumbnail navigation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"carousel-thumbnails\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"thumbnail-wrapper active\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Go to slide 1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"carousel-slide-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5aa-2etmp-tcm111-1336626.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;crop=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"thumbnail-wrapper \"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Go to slide 2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"carousel-slide-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ab-2etmp-tcm111-1336630.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;crop=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"thumbnail-wrapper \"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-index=\"2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Go to slide 3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"carousel-slide-3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/tmp5ac-2etmp-tcm111-1336635.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;crop=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shift in how firms are used also depends on the infrastructure sector.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Road and bridge construction and surveying and mapping remain among the top three types of projects for which departments seek outside expertise. Wastewater\/ stormwater treatment dropped somewhat, while pipeline construction and rehabilitation increased nearly 3%.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the housing boom, water and sewer authorities spent a portion of their budgets each year to meet new service requirements. Today those departments are spending approximately the same amount but pushing the dollars toward rehabilitation rather than new pipeline construction and installation.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI expected a slowdown in the wastewater\/stormwater category because fewer subdivisions are being built, so you don&#8217;t see that push we saw in 2002 through 2006,\u201d Simonson says.<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>THE DOMINO EFFECT<\/b>\r <\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of those departments that will forge ahead with projects before the end of the year, most plan to use AEC firms for design, but even that number is dropping. That figure has ranged from 53% to 57%, but this year it&#8217;s just below 43%.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there&#8217;s nothing to build, there&#8217;s nothing to design, and analysts expect 2009 to be a tough year for construction. Between the housing slump, declining gas tax revenues, and general economic malaise, FMI&#8217;s Bridgers expects 2008 construction volumes across most sectors to fall between 2% and 5%.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt won&#8217;t hurt much because most contractors have backlogs, and they won&#8217;t really feel the pain until 2009,\u201d he says. As demand for new infrastructure decreases, infrastructure departments should expect to feel those effects as well. But with the nation&#8217;s aging infrastructure demanding attention, maintenance should remain steady.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe expect the recession to be short and light, but it will linger in the Northeast and Midwest and will rebound faster in the Southeast and Southwest,\u201d Bridgers says.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The increased reliance on private sector involvement in planning and building public infrastructure raises a philosophical question: How many public-private projects will be built over the next decade? \u201cThe private sector leverages its infrastructure assets against other activities, whereas the public sector doesn&#8217;t have any other way of raising money,\u201d Pagano says.<\/p>\r <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today the public is more accepting of private sector involvement. \u201cIt&#8217;s similar to a century ago, when infrastructure was a joint venture in the building of canals, turnpikes, and railroads. We have a long tradition of that,\u201d Pagano says. \u201cI see more private sector involvement in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\r \r","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Click here for a look at our top 50 AEC firms (1-25, 26-50) No matter what happens, we&#8217;re all in this together. That&#8217;s the theme of our fourth annual survey on the use of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms. When we e-mailed our questionnaire to readers in March, housing starts were at a 17-year [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"scheduledNewsletterDates":[],"_scheduled_newsletter_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"zonda_content_type_url_append":"_o","zonda_dfp_zone":"","zonda_exclude_recommended_contents":false,"zonda_exclude_most_popular":false,"zonda_exclude_tagged_results":false,"zonda_eyebrow":"Top 50 AEC Firms","zonda_last_newsletter_date":"2099-12-31T23:59:59.999-05:00","zonda_original_url":"","zonda_pdf_version":0,"zonda_print_headline":"Switching Gears","zonda_promo_abstract":"As the need for new infrastructure decreases, managers dedicate more dollars to rehabilitation. Click","zonda_promo_headline":"","zonda_promo_image":0,"zonda_subheadline":"As the need for new infrastructure decreases, managers dedicate more dollars to rehabilitation."},"tags":[84944],"news_item_type":[28],"section_10":[83124],"subject":[581,254,399,57],"organization":[3494],"award":[],"person":[],"product_type_10":[],"content-group":[],"event":[],"location":[378],"state":[338],"brand":[21460],"jlc-category":[],"year_tax":[],"sponsor":[],"coauthors":[84364],"class_list":["post-65622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-top-aec-firms","news_item_type-article","section_10-infrastructure","subject-bridges-and-culverts","subject-construction","subject-infrastructure-projects","subject-projects","organization-associated-general-contractors","location-chicago-naperville-joliet-il-in-wi","state-illinois","brand-public-works"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Switching Gears<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As the need for new infrastructure decreases, managers dedicate more dollars to rehabilitation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/projects\/infrastructure\/switching-gears_o\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/zonda-develop.go-vip.net\/concrete-construction\/projects\/infrastructure\/switching-gears_o\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Switching Gears\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the need for new infrastructure decreases, managers dedicate more dollars to rehabilitation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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