City Grill

Photo courtesy Schmidt Associates

Sarah Hempstead 
CEO
Schmidt Associates 

“Construction is booming, driven by strong demand for new infrastructure, reimagined health care and education, commercial development and new housing,” Hempstead says. “The city’s growth is fueled by both public and private investment, reflecting Indianapolis’ appeal as a thriving hub for business and innovation.  

“An exciting development is restoration of the White River riverfront through the Reconnecting to Our Waterways initiative, which revitalizes the city’s waterways and surrounding neighborhoods and towns,” she adds. “This project is transforming the waterfront and emphasizing our shared responsibility to protect natural resources while enhancing public spaces.  

“The AEC sector today is facing a shortage of skilled professionals, particularly architects, engineers and designers. There’s also an urgent need for more diverse talent to better reflect the communities we serve. Diversity is one of Schmidt Associates’ core values. We are addressing these challenges by engaging the next generation through our Architecture and Engineering 101 classes, which introduce high school students to potential industry careers,” she says.