New England Chief Operating Officer Mike Kearns Shares 2026 Forecast

Mike Kearns, chief operating officer for Shawmut’s New England region, shared his 2026 industry outlook with New England Real Estate Journal. In his forecast, Kearns points to 2026 as a stabilizing year for the market, shaped by continued investment in sustainability, the growing importance of early preconstruction collaboration, and shifting sector dynamics across higher education, commercial, life sciences, and public-sector work.

Read what Mike has to anticipate in the coming year below.

What is your 2026 outlook, and which trends in your industry will influence the CRE market?

We expect 2026 to be a stabilizing year for the market, with different sectors showing distinct trends. Higher education partners are focusing more on energy efficiency, building envelope improvements, and systems upgrades within their existing facilities. Commercial development is seeing pockets of increased activity, particularly in hospitality. Life sciences remains strong, and public-sector work continues at a steady pace, with new K–12 schools and infrastructure projects supporting ongoing community needs.

What challenges or opportunities do you see for your clients or projects in 2026?

Labor availability remains tight, particularly for specialized trades, but reduced overall market activity has created opportunities for more strategic workforce planning. Early collaboration during preconstruction continues to be a key advantage—clients who engage construction partners sooner are seeing stronger outcomes.

What is your firm prioritizing in 2026 to stay competitive and support your clients?

We’re building on strong momentum in New England—while remaining grounded in the values that have defined our success for decades. We’re focused on strategic growth with long-term and new clients who value safety, collaboration, quality, and innovation, anchored by our people, processes, and partnerships that have made Shawmut a preferred builder for complex commercial, education, life science and historic preservation projects across New England. Our teams remain focused on delivering executional excellence, even as project complexity grows.