CHICAGO, IL — From digital city halls and modernized public safety facilities to the rise of maintenance-free materials, local governments are fundamentally changing how they build. These findings are part of a new guidebook released today by F.H. Paschen: 2026 Trends in Municipal Construction. This publication is the fourth installment of the company’s five-part 2026 Construction Trends Series, which provides a roadmap for public agencies to build better communities.
The newly published municipal-government guide identifies five major shifts in how towns, villages, and townships are managing their building projects. These include the digital transformation of council chambers, the move toward renovating existing assets over new builds and an increased demand for high-performance public safety facilities that prioritize first responder health.
“Because we build for public agencies across the country, we are in a unique position to connect the dots for local governments,” said Tom Cross of F.H. Paschen. “This guide is a collection of best practices emerging nationwide that can be applied at the local level.”
The report also highlights how more municipalities are using Job Order Contracting (JOC) to clear backlogs of deferred maintenance. This procurement method allows officials to bypass long bid cycles and start small-to-midsize repairs in days rather than months.
The 2026 Trends in Municipal Construction Guide is available for download at F.H. Paschen’s website.
F.H. Paschen has released the full five-part 2026 Construction Trends Series: