St. Louis, Missouri, September 11, 2025
News Summary
A St. Louis contractor has promoted a longtime staff member to senior project manager as the firm highlights recent high-profile work and positions itself for large regional projects. The promoted manager, with more than 20 years of experience, leads campus work at a major university and the $46 million core-and-shell renovation of the former Post-Dispatch building. The firm recently finished a $27.2 million restoration of the Old Courthouse and is delivering a design-build water treatment replacement in joint venture. Leadership says a pipeline of airport, aerospace, water and health care projects will sustain activity despite material, lead-time and financing headwinds.
Tarlton Promotes Josh Narup to Senior Project Manager as Firm Highlights Historic Renovation and Regional Infrastructure Work
In a move that aligns leadership with a portfolio of major capital projects, Tarlton has promoted Josh Narup to Senior Project Manager. Narup, who has more than two decades of experience in the construction industry, joined the St. Louis–based general contractor in 2016 as a project engineer, and has since contributed to multiple projects for Washington University in St. Louis as well as high‑profile renovations in the city. The promotion reflects Narup’s leadership on complex assignments and his ongoing role in internal process improvement and quality control efforts.
The most notable work under Narup’s oversight is the award‑winning $46 million core and shell renovation of the former St. Louis Post‑Dispatch Building, located at 900 N. Tucker Blvd. in the Downtown North Insight District. The project modernized a landmark property while preserving its essential character, illustrating the firm’s ability to balance preservation with contemporary needs in a dense downtown environment.
Old Courthouse restoration and modernization
Tarlton also completed major modernization work on the city’s Old Courthouse, navigating abatement issues and aging building systems to upgrade facilities while maintaining historic elements. The firm completed a two‑year, $27.2 million restoration that preserved the courthouse’s heritage while enhancing functionality for contemporary use.
Regional diversification and market outlook
Leadership at Tarlton frames the firm’s growth within a broader regional strategy centered on diversification. Tim McCoy, the company’s Director of Strategy, describes diversification as expanding transportation and logistics infrastructure—including airports, highways and distribution facilities—along with sustained investments in health care and life sciences and faster work in data centers and mission‑critical facilities. He highlights a major regional project, the $3 billion expansion of Lambert International Airport, which includes consolidating Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 into a single terminal with up to 62 gates, an onsite garage, and roadway improvements. Other significant regional efforts include a 1.8‑billion dollar expansion at the Boeing Defense, Space and Security campus to support advanced aircraft assembly and a post‑assembly operations center for future generations of aircraft. In water infrastructure, Missouri American Water is investing more than $500 million statewide to improve system reliability and resiliency, including upgrading treatment plants and replacing aging pipes, pumps, and storage tanks. In the design‑build space, Tarlton, in a joint venture with Goodwin Bros., is delivering the region’s largest water treatment facility replacement for St. Louis County. In health care, SSM Health is building a 14‑story, 200‑bed pediatric hospital in St. Louis, slated for completion in 2027, featuring expanded neonatal and pediatric intensive care units and dedicated cancer and cardiology care areas.
Beyond these large projects, McCoy noted ongoing momentum across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, higher education, energy and power, commercial and institutional work, and multifamily housing. The market, however, remains constrained by higher material costs, with prices showing some stabilization, and by long lead times for certain electrical gear and mechanical equipment. An uncertain interest‑rate environment also remains a challenge, creating financing hurdles and project delays that complicate predicting backlog and resource needs for contractors.
On the historic side, the original courtrooms of the Old Courthouse were renovated as part of a $2.7 million effort to preserve the structure’s heritage. The ongoing strength of the regional market, paired with continued diversification, is expected to push the architecture, engineering, and construction sector forward in the near term.
Leadership, personnel moves, and ongoing staffing
In related staffing changes within the same organization, the firm has expanded its project accounting and corporate accounting roles, reinforcing internal controls and financial management as projects grow. Narup’s advancement is paired with his ongoing participation on the firm’s internal process improvement and internal quality control committees, reflecting a governance model that blends project execution with continuous improvement.
Looking ahead
The market outlook remains cautiously optimistic, with leadership predicting ongoing opportunities in the St. Louis metro region for the remainder of the decade. The region’s diversification is expected to sustain the AEC sector’s growth trajectory through 2026 and beyond, with new work anticipated across government and private sectors, as well as in critical infrastructure and urban development.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was promoted at Tarlton?
- Josh Narup was promoted to Senior Project Manager.
- What notable project did Narup work on?
- He led the $46 million core and shell renovation of the former St. Louis Post‑Dispatch Building at 900 N. Tucker Blvd.
- What is known about the Old Courthouse restoration?
- A two‑year, $27.2 million restoration was completed to modernize the courthouse while preserving historic elements.
- What diversification themes were highlighted for the region?
- Diversification included transportation and logistics infrastructure, health care and life sciences, and data centers and mission‑critical facilities, with major regional projects like Lambert Airport expansion and Boeing facility expansion cited.
- What market challenges are mentioned?
- High material costs with stabilization trends, long lead times for electrical and mechanical equipment, and financing hurdles due to uncertain interest rates.
- What is the expected outlook beyond 2026?
- The AEC market in the St. Louis region is expected to continue growing with ongoing diversification across sectors.
| Key Features | |
|---|---|
| Promotion | Josh Narup promoted to Senior Project Manager at Tarlton |
| Organization | Tarlton is a St. Louis‑based general contractor |
| Notable project | $46M Post‑Dispatch Building core and shell renovation at 900 N. Tucker Blvd |
| Historic restoration | Old Courthouse restoration completed over two years for $27.2M |
| Regional growth focus | Diversification into transportation, health care, data centers, and other sectors |
| Major regional projects | Lambert Airport expansion, Boeing facility expansion, Missouri American Water investments, SSM Health pediatric hospital |
| Market conditions | High material costs with some stabilization; long lead times; financing challenges due to interest rates |
| Outlook | Continued growth of the St. Louis AEC sector through 2026 and beyond |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Rejournals: Tarlton names senior project manager
- Wikipedia: Tarlton Corporation
- Rejournals: Tarlton expands construction team
- Google Search: Tarlton Corporation construction team St. Louis
- STLmag: Tracy E. Hart — Tarlton Corporation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tarlton Corporation
- ENR: Large projects fuel St. Louis construction industry
- Google Scholar: St. Louis construction industry large projects
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Local business coverage — Tarlton/contracting
- Google News: Tarlton Corporation St. Louis
