AECOM President Highlights Early Planning as Key to Managing Construction Risk

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-09-14

AECOM President Highlights Early Planning as Key to Managing Construction Risk

Lara Poloni emphasized the role of pre-construction decision-making, data center expansion, and collaborative risk models in driving global project success.

Key strategic decisions that determine the success of major capital projects occur well before physical ground is broken, according to Lara Poloni, president of global infrastructure consulting firm AECOM. Speaking on global industry trends, Poloni emphasized that front-end planning and risk management during initial design phases are essential to navigating complex building environments.

The executive noted that project owners are increasingly seeking early contractor involvement to address supply chain vulnerabilities, labor constraints, and volatile material costs. By establishing precise project parameters and feasibility models prior to construction, developers can better prevent budget overruns and schedule delays.

Data center development continues to represent a critical growth opportunity for the sector, driven by unprecedented investment in artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. Poloni highlighted that the high power requirements and technical specifications of modern data centers demand extensive coordination between utilities and planning teams long before site work starts.

Managing delivery risk remains a primary focus for major contractors, leading to a shift away from traditional fixed-price contracts toward more collaborative delivery models. Alternative frameworks, including progressive design-build and progressive public-private partnerships, are increasingly utilized to distribute financial risk more equitably among stakeholders.

In addition to technology infrastructure, sustained demand is expected across energy transition initiatives, water management systems, and advanced manufacturing hubs. Executives maintain that thorough pre-construction alignment will remain the single most decisive factor in completing large-scale projects efficiently amid ongoing economic shifts.