News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
On April 2, 2025, the Trump administration announced sweeping new tariffs on imported goods, including a blanket 10% baseline tariff and much steeper reciprocal tariffs targeting dozens of countries. These measures—some going into effect within days—are already shaking global markets and sparking concern across industries. For those of us in the building and construction space, the implications are profound.
At B&D, we’ve spent over 31 years helping clients manage complex capital improvement and development projects through every kind of market condition. As experts in this industry, we understand how sensitive project planning is to changes in the cost of materials, labor, and supply chain reliability. And in moments like this, we are more committed than ever to being a safe harbor for our clients.
Reading the signals, preparing for the storm
While it’s too early to know exactly how these tariffs will shake out across the built environment, we are watching the situation very closely. We anticipate ripple effects in the costs of steel, aluminum, electrical components, concrete additives, glass, finishes, and a wide range of mechanical systems—particularly those sourced from countries now subject to high reciprocal tariffs.
But uncertainty doesn’t have to mean paralysis. At B&D, we specialize in scenario planning and project resiliency. That’s why we are advising our clients to consider low, medium, and high-impact tariff scenarios as they assess their current and upcoming capital plans. It’s also why we’re working with owner’s architects, engineers, and contractors to understand where projects are most vulnerable—and what can be done now to hedge against those vulnerabilities, whether it’s fast-tracking capital projects via alternative delivery methods, bundling, or sourcing in a responsive manner.
Surveying the industry: boots on the ground
As part of our response, B&D has launched a nationwide survey of professionals across the building and construction ecosystem to get a real-time picture of what’s happening on the ground. What are suppliers saying about lead times and prices? Are construction managers seeing early warning signs from subcontractors or material distributors? How are institutions and municipalities preparing to adapt?
We’re collecting these insights to help our clients make sense of what’s next—not just in abstract economic terms, but in practical, project-specific terms. Your decisions deserve data. And B&D is committed to gathering it.
A safe harbor in a volatile sea
We know that today’s uncertainty can feel overwhelming. But our role at B&D is to bring clarity, perspective, and solutions to every challenge—especially the unexpected ones.
Whether your project is in pre-design or already under construction, we are here to help you navigate, adapt, and move forward with confidence. That might mean reexamining escalation assumptions, re-phasing bid packages, or identifying alternate materials and procurement strategies. Whatever the solution, we’ll get there together.
In times like these, the value of a trusted advisor only grows. Brailsford & Dunlavey is that advisor. Let’s talk about how we can help you stay on course.
Will Mangrum is President of Brailsford & Dunlavey’s K-12, Municipal, and Venues practice, with over 20 years of experience advising clients on complex capital projects. A trusted leader in the PK-12 space, he has guided major school modernization programs in Washington, DC ($3.5B), Baltimore ($1.1B), and Oakland ($770M). Known for delivering politically sensitive projects on time and on budget, Will brings deep expertise across planning, design, procurement, and construction management—consistently helping clients achieve their goals with transparency, precision, and community trust. To learn more about Will, click here.
