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 Major Renovation and Regional Infrastructure Work
A St. Louis–based general contractor elevated a long‑time staff member to a senior project leadership role while continuing work on several high‑profile projects across the region. The promotion follows the firm’s recent completion of landmark renovations and ongoing involvement in large infrastructure programs that are reshaping the local construction market.
Toplines: promotion, flagship projects and regional scale
The company promoted Josh Narup to senior project manager. Narup joined the firm in 2016 as a project engineer and brings more than two decades of construction experience to the role. His portfolio at the company includes multiple assignments at Washington University in St. Louis and work on an 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.
Project work and preservation
Narup supported modernization and preservation efforts on the city’s Old Courthouse, a multi‑phase restoration that navigated hazardous abatement and outdated building systems while retaining historic elements. The firm completed a two‑year restoration valued at $27.2 million, with original courtrooms preserved through a focused $2.7 million renovation. Narup also serves as an active member of internal process improvement and quality control committees, and he holds a Bachelor of Science in construction management and design from Southeast Missouri State University.
Firm activity, staffing and partnerships
The company continues to update its project and accounting teams, including promotions and new hires in project accounting and corporate accounting roles. It is also delivering major utility work through a joint venture with a regional contractor to design and build a replacement for the county’s largest water treatment facility.
Regional megaprojects shaping demand
Industry leaders point to a mix of large public and private investments that are broadening work available to architects, engineers and contractors. Key moves include a roughly $3 billion expansion of the area international airport that will consolidate terminals into a single complex with up to 62 gates, add an onsite garage and extend roadway improvements. Aerospace and defense manufacturing is also expanding through a major $1.8 billion, 1.1‑million‑square‑foot project to support advanced fighter jet assembly and associated post‑assembly operations.
Water and wastewater systems are receiving major upgrades with a statewide utility investing more than $500 million to replace aging pipes, pumps and storage tanks and to upgrade treatment plants. In health care, a 14‑story, 200‑bed pediatric hospital is under construction, scheduled for completion in 2027 and planned to expand neonatal and pediatric intensive care services while including dedicated cancer and cardiology care areas.
Market conditions and near‑term outlook
Contractors in the region are managing higher material costs and long lead times for certain electrical and mechanical equipment. While material prices have shown signs of stability, extended procurement timelines remain a concern. Uncertainty in interest rates continues to complicate financing for new development and can lead to project delays and difficulty forecasting backlog and staffing needs. Possible softness in some health care and research markets tied to funding uncertainty is noted, but sector diversification—transportation/logistics, health care and life sciences, data centers, advanced manufacturing, higher education, energy, commercial and multifamily housing—should continue to generate work in 2026 and beyond.
Why the promotion matters
Promoting experienced staff into senior delivery roles helps firms manage complex restorations and large new builds at the same time. The new senior project manager’s experience on historic renovations, core and shell work, and institutional projects positions the firm to handle the mix of preservation work and modern infrastructure projects now underway across the region.
Quick facts
- Promotion: Josh Narup named senior project manager; with 20+ years in construction; joined firm in 2016.
- Education: Bachelor of Science in construction management and design.
- Flagship projects: $46M Post‑Dispatch core and shell; $27.2M Old Courthouse restoration; $2.7M courtroom preservation.
- Regional projects: $3B airport expansion; $1.8B aerospace campus expansion; $500M+ water and wastewater investments; 14‑story pediatric hospital due 2027.
- Market issues: higher material prices, long lead times, interest‑rate and financing uncertainty.
FAQ
What role was Josh Narup promoted to?
He was promoted to senior project manager with responsibilities over major renovation and institutional projects.
Which major renovation projects has he worked on?
His work includes the award‑winning $46 million core and shell renovation of the former Post‑Dispatch Building and restoration work at the city’s Old Courthouse.
What is the Old Courthouse work about?
The Old Courthouse project involved modernization while preserving historic elements, including a $2.7 million effort focused on original courtrooms, and was completed as part of a broader $27.2 million restoration.
What large regional projects are influencing construction demand?
Major drivers include a multi‑billion dollar airport consolidation and expansion, a large aerospace manufacturing campus expansion, major water and wastewater infrastructure investments, and a new 14‑story pediatric hospital slated for 2027.
What challenges are contractors facing now?
Contractors are dealing with elevated material costs, long lead times for specific equipment, and financing uncertainty tied to interest‑rate fluctuations, which can delay project starts and complicate staffing and backlog planning.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Promotion | Josh Narup promoted to senior project manager; more than 20 years of industry experience; with the company since 2016. |
| Historic and adaptive reuse | $27.2M Old Courthouse restoration; $2.7M courtroom preservation; abatement and system modernization while preserving historic features. |
| Flagship renovation | Completed $46M core and shell overhaul of former Post‑Dispatch Building in downtown district. |
| Regional megaprojects | $3B airport consolidation and expansion; $1.8B aerospace campus build; $500M+ utility upgrades; 14‑story pediatric hospital due 2027. |
| Market conditions | Higher materials costs with some recent stabilization, long lead times for equipment, and financing uncertainty affecting project starts and scheduling. |
| Company activity | Team promotions and new hires in accounting and project roles; joint venture delivery of a major county water treatment facility replacement. |
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
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