2026 AEC trends (Part 3): Climate-resilient landscapes and water reuse
March 05, 2026
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From coasts to inland areas, communities need more green urban areas. And they need to preserve precious water.
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Our teams expect 2026 to be a critical year for the architecture, engineering, and environmental design industries. From water reuse to more trees in our cities, we’re hard at work designing sustainable and resilient solutions to address the world’s greatest challenges.
This is the final part of a three-part series examining the trends that will shape the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector this year. Part one looked at nature-based solutions in environmental work and power delivery for energy teams. Part two dug into how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting architecture.
What do we expect to see in the landscape architecture and water industries? Here are a few trends to keep an eye on in 2026.
Looking at 2026 through a landscape architecture lens
Nancy Locke, senior principal, Community Development discipline leader
I love my job and the impact it can have. Honestly, though, “landscape architecture” is too often viewed as an afterthought. People sometimes think it’s just the pretty things people see in an urban setting.
And, yes, we want things to be pretty. But we need to embed landscape architecture early in infrastructure planning. Why? Because it’s a core infrastructure strategy. Our teams need to co-lead on green-blue and climate-focused systems and not just “soften” finished designs.
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The East Midtown Greenway in New York, New York, is part of a larger project to help create a pedestrian esplanade and bikeway to fully encircle Manhattan.
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And that is where I see landscape architecture and infrastructure taking steps forward in 2026. Here are three things we should see some clarity on this year:
- Landscape architects leading climate-resilient and regenerative design
- Putting a priority on the transformation of the public realm
- Understanding the benefits of green infrastructure
I’ll look at each of them more deeply.
1. Landscape architects leading climate-resilient and regenerative design
When we think about our urban places, we often think of buildings. But the things outside of those buildings—that’s where landscape architects work. And it’s where we can impact the climate, water management, urban cooling, and so much more.
We need to focus on nature-based solutions. Then we can truly support the Climate Action Plan outlined by the American Society of Landscape Architects.
For example, in my hometown—Denver, Colorado—16th Street (for years known as the 16th Street Mall) has always been a major economic driver and a draw for locals and visitors alike.
But it was past its heyday. Many of the trees along the street were dead or dying. And, in the urban landscape, trees are essential. In Denver, it’s more of an issue. The downtown canopy coverage is only about 4 percent. It is the lowest coverage of 20 major US cities surveyed by the U.S. Forest Service in 2012.
So, what do you do? Do you simply go in and “soften” the area again? Put lipstick on a pig, as they say? And then face the same problem in a decade or so?
Clearly, that’s not the right approach.
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Large trees are part of the makeover of 16th Street, a pedestrian-friendly space, in Denver, Colorado. Nearly 250 trees were used in the project.
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The project wrapped up in 2025. What made it so impactful was the commitment from the city, community, and design team to deliver on serious infrastructure.
How big of a commitment? Well, the trees that now line 16th Street were selected before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team scouted more than 5,000 trees at 10 nurseries in 4 states to find the best options to address historic character, transportation specifications, and canopy-resilience goals. And they were nurtured and allowed to mature locally.
Nearly 250 trees—large, 7- to 10-inch caliper trees—now line 16th Street.
Why does it matter so much? Strategic tree placement has huge benefits for climate resilience and water management. Trees can:
- Help cool the air between 5- and 14-degrees Fahrenheit, mitigating urban heat island effect.
- Absorb pollutant gases, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
- Filter particulates, including dust, dirt, and smoke.
- Increase biodiversity in the city and support pollinators.
- Regulate and filter stormwater flow. A single mature tree can absorb 20 gallons of water per day, helping mitigate stormwater runoff.
- Create soil conditions that promote infiltration.
- Reduce energy needs. A robust canopy can lower the need for air conditioning by 30 percent and decrease winter heating bills by 20 to 50 percent.
- Improve mental and physical health.
But you won’t get all of these benefits if you wait until the end to engage landscape architects. And that’s why I use 16th Street as just one example of how we can do things right. If we put the focus on climate resilience and regenerative design, we get better results.
And that’s where landscape architecture is headed.
We’re always talking with cities about the impact we can have. How we can help them the most. And we’re getting more interest in landscape architecture-led projects that transform communities for the better. It’s a bigger picture. And it’s great.
2. Putting a priority on the transformation of the public realm
There is a focus on taking back the public realm for people. Yes, we have cars—and they are part of our culture.
But most cities are undertaking at least one major corridor-redevelopment project. They’re trying to get people more focused on multimodal options. They want to get people on their bikes or walking.
And in an already developed community, we’re looking at a limited street corridor. So, if you give more of it to pedestrians and bicycles, maybe you’re taking away some street parking.
But that lane or parking space becomes a wider sidewalk. It turns into more shade trees. It’s a flexible public space.
And it’s a powerful statement about how landscape architects, civil engineers, and mobility planners work together to deliver what a city needs. The end result? Improved experience and livability. That can be through biodiversity, thermal comfort, or joy and delight.
These are huge steps toward bringing more livability into the public realm. And that livability needs to be at the forefront when cities start their planning process.
As an example, let’s look at the East Midtown Greenway project in New York City. It is part of a larger project to create a pedestrian esplanade and bikeway to encircle Manhattan.
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New outdoor green space is one of the major benefits of the East Midtown Greenway project in New York. The project added 1.5 acres of usable space in the city.
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In simple terms, the greenway is a bridge that elevates a park above the East River. It’s a 40-foot-wide structure that adds more than 2,000 linear feet of separated paths for bikes and pedestrians and helps with stormwater reduction.
But it’s so much more.
It added 1.5 acres of usable space to Manhattan—where property values are among the highest in the world. And all of that is public space. It’s also one of the areas in the city with the least amount of green space, so it’s a needed public amenity.
This switch to thinking more about the public realm is something I’m really excited about this year.
3. Understanding the benefits of green infrastructure
Let me take you back to the trees on 16th Street. Not only are they big, beautiful, and good for the urban landscape—they are also a financial benefit.
How so? They are part of the city’s green infrastructure. “Green infrastructure” is really about parks and open space, tree canopy, biodiversity, and urban drainage. And the benefits these elements can offer to a community.
Mature trees can bring as much as five times their cost in return on investment, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. These large trees add about $10,000 in value for residential development and $15,000 for commercial development. According to a study from Washington State University, retail stores near mature tree canopies bring in about 12 percent higher tax revenue.
" }These are huge steps toward bringing more livability into the public realm. And that livability needs to be at the forefront when cities start their planning process.
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We simply can’t look past the financial part of infrastructure projects. If we’re going to have the impact we want—really need—to have, we have to demonstrate the economic returns from the beginning of the project. City officials and stakeholders care about the bottom line.
Here’s another example: The Battery in New York City.
The Battery Coastal Resilience Project will rebuild the deteriorating wharf structure at a higher elevation. It will help protect against sea level rise while integrating with this iconic waterfront park at the southern tip of Manhattan. It has already been named an Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) Envision Platinum award winner.
Clearly, it’s a project with a focus on climate resilience. But it also supports reuse and waste management.
The project uses a lot of granite, metals, and wood from the existing site and provides a hierarchy for removals that prioritizes reuse and recycling and minimizes landfill waste. This kind of thinking—circular design—is a priority for the city.
It also has economic benefits and cost savings. And that matters to those funding the projects—city officials and residents.
For 2026, it’s about shifting the landscape architecture narrative
Landscape architecture must move from aesthetic add-on to core infrastructure strategy.
In 2026, the field is advancing through:
- Climate-resilient and regenerative design
- Reclaiming public space for people
- Clearly demonstrating the economic value of green infrastructure
Early integration of landscape architects enables stronger environmental performance, healthier and more livable cities, and measurable returns—from cooling streets and managing stormwater to boosting property values and tax revenue.
Looking at 2026 through the water-reuse lens
Rob McCandless, vice president, Reuse and Alternative Water Supply sector leader
Water reuse in 2026 is moving from “innovative add‑on” to a growing core strategy for utilities and industry. We should expect growth in both centralized and onsite systems, evolving regulations, and more customized planning.
Global water recycling and reuse is expected to grow from 10 to 11 percent annually through the early 2030s. This is driven by scarcity, drought, and ESG commitments.
Industrial growth is expected to be even higher—around 12 to 13 percent.
So, the growth is there, but what does it mean for the water industry in 2026 and beyond? Here are three big trends to watch in 2026.
- Regulatory frameworks, challenges, and solutions
- Technological developments to improve water reuse options
- How will AI drive water reuse?
I’ll dig into them one at a time, but they are all tied together—and equally important.
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The Colorado River flows through Marble Canyon in Arizona. Low snowfall is creating additional pressure on the water resources from the Colorado River, which helps supply much of the water to the Southwest US.
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1. Regulatory frameworks, challenges, and solutions—borrowing from others
Water reuse is growing—because it must.
There are some areas, like Southern California, that have blazed a trail for water reuse. Even beyond Southern California, growing communities, industries, and changing climate conditions are making it clear that we simply need more water. One of the best ways to get it is through reuse.
In the US, some of the states that have been treating water to non-potable reuse standards are now looking at potable reuse. Some that haven’t prioritized water conservation historically are looking at non-potable reuse.
That variation allows some states to fast-track projects. Others are faced with a few more obstacles.
As more communities pursue water reuse programs, we may start to see a convergence on policy. Some water-scarce states are now looking at neighboring regions for guidance on how to set up their regulations.
Some states have come out of the gate early with a regulatory approach. Let’s focus here on two: California and Texas.
California is more prescriptive: California has led the country in the advancement of science, technology, and regulation for direct and indirect potable reuse. As leaders in this space and with a dedication to the protection of public health, California approached potable reuse with an abundance of caution. Many dedicated researchers and other water professionals contributed to the development of the regulations now in place.
As a result, California’s regulations are very prescriptive, particularly around treatment technology. While the prescribed treatment processes are costly, this approach has allowed for the rapid development of scores of advanced water purification facilities throughout the state.
Each project stands alone in Texas: While California has a process that makes the projects all very similar, Texas is at the other extreme. There are no prescriptive requirements. Every project goes through its own independent review.
That means two things: 1) Each potable reuse project will get its own set of permit requirements. That can make it a lengthier process to collect all the data. But, 2) the treatment-goal standards aren’t all the same. In some instances, treatment performance requirements can be lower for a particular project based on the background data.
Here’s the point: in both Texas and California, public health is the No. 1 concern. But they have different approaches to the projects and how to get things done.
Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada (and others) chart a new path: As more states and communities focus on water reuse, there are opportunities to borrow from what’s already being done, innovate, optimize, and advance the field of water reuse. We’re at a time where, in many places, agencies are deciding what their regulations will look like.
2. Technological developments to improve water reuse options
One of the best examples of potable reuse is the Pure Water Program in San Diego, California. It’s a multi-year, multiphase project that not only will reduce discharges from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant but also provide up to 50 percent of San Diego’s water supply when complete.
As a multiphase project, it helps all community members benefit equally and builds capacity over time. The final purified water—which goes through multiple advanced treatment steps to reach purification—is delivered to Miramar Reservoir. There, it mixes with other water sources and rejoins the water system. Eventually, the water from the reservoir is treated at the nearby water treatment plant before being sent on to customers.
" }San Diego, California, imports about 85 percent of its water. The new Pure Water Program is focused on potable reuse and will help the city cut its reliance on imported water.
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Of course, San Diego is a coastal city—and that makes it easier for them to pursue water reuse. Why? Brine disposal is one of the big challenges of water reuse. Coastal cities can discharge the brine to the ocean.
Communities away from the coasts face significant challenges and costs for brine disposal. It is in these areas where innovative solutions for salinity management and brine treatment and disposal are needed.
We’re seeing both the need and the desire to embrace water reuse in many locations. I’m seeing two main drivers:
- Climate impacts
- Growth of mission-critical facilities
Let me break those down a bit.
Climate impacts: This is one I can speak to personally. I live in Arizona, so water is a precious commodity. And I—along with millions of other people in the Southwest US—depend on water from the Colorado River.
This winter, the snowfall has been very low. Because of that, we’re expecting another really bad year in the Colorado River basin for runoff. All projections are calling for a particularly dry year, which is, unfortunately, becoming the norm.
As a result, we’re likely to see more restrictions on Colorado River water deliveries. Water reuse is one way to mitigate the projected shortage.
Growth of mission-critical facilities: Mission-critical facilities like data centers and semiconductor facilities are growing. These are very water-intensive projects.
Many of these facilities are being built in what might be considered areas that are “water rich.” So, reuse might seem unnecessary. However, in some cases, the new data center might use 5-to-10 times more water than the whole community does.
How do you manage that? Water reuse is an excellent option.
In some cases, the smaller community where this new facility is going might need to import effluent from a nearby larger community. This raises the question of whether municipalities could actually recoup costs by selling effluent.
As more and more data centers are built inland, brine management becomes a significant issue.
Zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) was designed for exactly that challenge. With ZLD, the waste that leaves the plant is just solids. And that type of waste has been used in industry for decades.
It’s hard to do, and expensive, but manageable.
That’s where high-recovery reverse osmosis (RO) as a first step can be particularly valuable. Typically, water reuse plants will run at about 85 percent recovery from RO. With these high-recovery systems, we’re seeing 90 to 95 percent recovery with only modest increases in operating costs. What seems like a small number cuts the volume of brine in half or better.
While simply reducing the volume of brine doesn’t make the problem go away, these are steps in the right direction. Technology is advancing, which makes water reuse more appealing for more utilities.
3. How can artificial intelligence help?
The water industry is no different from others when it comes to AI. The technology is having a massive impact. Though AI data centers are currently one of the largest consumers of water, AI could also drive efficiencies if applied correctly (and cooled with reused water, of course).
My colleagues in other parts of our Water business have talked about it before:
- The evolving role of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies in water
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning can diffuse water’s ticking time bomb
- How can machine learning help water utilities find lead service lines?
But how does it work for water reuse?
It starts with using AI and automation for operational intelligence. That means optimizing pumps, membranes, and chemical dosing—which helps cut energy use and improves reliability in reuse facilities.
" }I can see AI serving as an early warning system. It can help operations managers staff the plant for changing conditions, or alert them quickly to a system that needs attention.
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I can see AI serving as an early warning system. It can help operations managers staff the plant for changing conditions, or alert them quickly to a system that needs attention. These adjustments can save time and money.
That’s a powerful use of AI.
For 2026, it’s about setting expectations—and delivering
I opened this discussion by talking about water reuse growth for both residential and industrial users. Now is the time to move this forward.
Honestly, there is a lot of room to do so. It’s estimated that only 6 to 7 percent of wastewater in the US is reused. We can do much more with this resource, especially in arid areas (where water is at a critical level) and in coastal areas (where it is easier to dispose of the brine).
We’ve been treating wastewater for decades. Shifting toward water reuse strategies—both potable and non-potable—is a key opportunity for many utilities and industries. It will take a combination of advanced treatment, smart controls, and regulatory navigation to get us where we need to go.
And we’re primed to do it.
" }