Brent Bunting, Nashville Business Unit Leader, DPR Construction

In an interview with Invest:, Brent Bunting, Nashville business unit leader at DPR Construction, discussed the evolving commercial construction landscape in Nashville amid economic pressures and industry shifts, labor shortages, and DPR’s strategic focus on sectors like healthcare, data centers, and higher education. “DPR’s focus on core markets rather than opportunistic pursuits has been beneficial,” Bunting said.

What is your overview of the commercial construction industry in Nashville?
It is definitely not a calm time in the industry as there are several pressure points at play. The Nashville area has numerous projects lined up, including those being completed by DPR and others. However, economic pressures, interest rates, availability of capital, and tariff uncertainties are contributing to a somewhat uneven market. Despite these challenges, there appears to be a renewed sense of confidence. While delays and impacts due to these factors are common, the uncertainty seems to be shifting toward certainty, though I may be optimistic in that assessment. Currently, we are fortunate to be engaged in several exciting pre-construction efforts that will keep us busy through 2026 and beyond. However, we must also consider projects in limbo and what will happen when they move forward. Resource availability will continue to be a constraint, though not all general contractors are in the same position. DPR’s focus on core markets rather than opportunistic pursuits, as well as our depth of self-performing craft workers in-house, has been beneficial. This approach has allowed us to build expertise and maintain a strong reputation in Nashville, which is one of our newer offices. Establishing trust and delivering high-quality technical projects has been key to our success here.

Nashville’s construction landscape is evolving. While tower cranes were more prevalent two years ago, another wave of projects is in the pipeline, waiting to break ground. One such project is expected to start this fall, reintroducing cranes to the skyline. Additionally, the expansion of downtown to the East Bank is highly anticipated.

In healthcare, demand continues to outpace supply. However, staffing shortages and lengthy approval processes, such as certificates of need, can create bottlenecks. There is a growing trend toward remote, freestanding facilities to supplement bed counts, and prefabrication is emerging as a solution to improve efficiency, and we are already responding to related RFPs.

Advanced technology, particularly data centers, is another booming sector. The demand for data centers is insatiable, while manufacturing remains more volatile due to emerging technologies and new market entrants. Labor shortages further complicate matters, as local workers are increasingly drawn to remote projects like large-scale data centers.

Mixed-use developments and speed-to-market strategies are also gaining traction. 

Given DPR Construction’s wide range of services, which services and industries are driving growth, demand, and profitability?
Higher education is another sector experiencing growth. Local institutions are becoming more sophisticated in project delivery, exploring integrated project delivery models such as design-build as well as opportunities for prefabrication. This shift reflects broader industry trends now taking hold in Nashville. Universities are particularly focused on expanding technical spaces, such as manufacturing technology and laboratories.

DPR’s additional services include comprehensive pre-construction planning and a specialized supply chain team that manages tariff-related challenges. We also leverage virtual design and construction as well as prefabrication to enhance efficiency and project certainty. Our national procurement network allows us to secure critical materials, such as electrical gear, with reduced lead times. These capabilities are increasingly vital in today’s dynamic market. The Nashville construction industry is poised for continued evolution, driven by demand across multiple sectors and innovative delivery methods. While challenges remain, the outlook is optimistic, with significant opportunities on the horizon.

How is the construction industry in Nashville adapting to rising costs as tariffs impact building materials?

It is a complicated question because not every tariff is built equally. Not every tariff has certainty regarding whether it will be in place when the material is in transport or when it is required on-site. There is uncertainty about whether the tariff will remain, be modified, or removed. The most important thing we can do is be transparent with all project stakeholders and work as a team to navigate through it. We try to inform clients that if materials are released early, they may avoid potential future tariffs. It is a function of time as well because the longer we wait, the more likely it is that one or multiple tariffs will apply.

On the other hand, we must do our due diligence to ask the right questions of material vendors. There are both real tariff impacts and related tariff effects. A product may not be directly impacted by an official tariff, but its price could escalate due to market conditions. We ask detailed questions of our vendors and trade partners, such as where a product originates and where its components are sourced.  Fortunately, DPR has been tracking these issues for years, so we have a team experienced in navigating these challenges. While these new tariffs feel intimidating, it’s important to remember that there are always material procurement challenges; even in the boom of the mid-2010s, glass was in short supply, for example. Regarding cost, the impact varies significantly depending on the vendor. Our strategy involves a thorough analysis to identify alternative solutions. For example, an elevator company may offer different equipment sourcing options. One option may be the most cost-effective today, but could be heavily impacted by tariffs, making another alternative more viable. We focus on granular and systematic decision-making before breaking ground, as costs escalate significantly once construction begins.

To what extent is DPR Construction committed to supporting and promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable construction practices?
I am currently sitting in a WELL-certified office that we constructed ourselves. We are deeply committed to high performance and healthy building standards and have adopted leading sustainability practices decades ago when they first emerged. We are seeing increasing client interest in the WELL program because it not only ensures sustainable delivery but also creates a healthy environment for employees. With escalating energy costs, there is an appetite from clients to design and build to lessen their energy footprints, too.

Nationally, we have an entire team dedicated to sustainability. In 2025, we hired a new sustainability leader for Nashville, who brings decades of experience from Washington, D.C., and her own business. She is currently assisting with some of our larger, more complex local projects. Some of our clients fund programs to ensure that recycling and environmental responsibility are part of the project delivery, as there is room to improve these areas locally.  Our new hire hopes to collaborate with local government officials and designers here in Nashville to drive similar progress in this area.

Construction is one of the most impactful industries in terms of debris generation, so we prioritize mindful practices. We self-perform many of our trades and have approximately 600 employees locally, with just over 300 being craft workers handling concrete, drywall, specialties, doors, ceilings, and waterproofing. We recycle much of our drywall material voluntarily. Additionally, we have pioneered prefabrication technologies, manufacturing studs off-site to exact specifications, eliminating waste. Currently, this is done in Raleigh, but we plan to invest in a larger local prefabrication facility within the next few years. Sustainability is a priority, and we are excited to have our new teammate guiding DPR, our clients, and the community toward a greener future. At DPR, we are committed to delivering for current clients while ensuring sustainable growth focused on the right projects and partners who align with our values. We want to build in a way that reflects the sustainable and ecofriendly future we envision in our communities.