flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

ABI turns positive after four monthly declines

ABI turns positive after four monthly declines


By By BD+C Staff | September 23, 2011
On the heels of a period of weakness in design activity, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) took a sudden upturn in August.

 

On the heels of a period of weakness in design activity, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) took a sudden upturn in August. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending.
 
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the August ABI score was 51.4, following a very weak score of 45.1 in July. This score reflects an increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 56.9, up sharply from a reading of 53.7 the previous month.
 
"Based on the poor economic conditions over the last several months, this turnaround in demand for design services is a surprise," said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. "Many firms are still struggling, and continue to report that clients are having difficulty getting financing for viable projects, but it's possible we've reached the bottom of the down cycle."
Key August ABI highlights:
  • Regional averages: Midwest (49.0), South (47.4), West (47.4), Northeast (46.5)
  • Sector index breakdown: mixed practice (50.9), institutional (48.5), commercial / industrial (46.0),  multi-family residential (44.8)
  • Project inquiries index: 56.9 BD+C 

Related Stories

Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020

2020 Airport Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. airport facilities sector

AECOM, Hensel Phelps, and PGAL top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest airport sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020

Top 40 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2020

Jacobs, AECOM, and Kimley-Horn top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020

Top 155 Architecture Firms for 2020

Gensler, Perkins and Will, and HKS Architects top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020

Top 100 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2020

Stantec, HDR, and HOK head the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Government Buildings | Nov 25, 2020

New Indiana Toll Road headquarters creates unified environment for staff

New LEED Gold facility consolidates operations for tollway authority.

Architects | Nov 24, 2020

AEC Leaders share lessons from past downturns

Positions of passivity and cost-cutting run counter to the key lessons from AEC leaders who successfully navigated their firms through past market downturns.

Smart Buildings | Nov 20, 2020

The Weekly show: SPIRE smart building rating system, and pickleball court design tips

The November 19 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.

Transportation & Parking Facilities | Nov 13, 2020

BIG and Kilo-designed Pegasus Pod transports first Hyperloop passengers

The pod achieves Hyperloop travel at speeds over 1000km/hour.

Government Buildings | Nov 13, 2020

Tax shortfalls nip government projects in the bud

Federal contracts are proceeding, but states and cities are delaying, deferring, and looking for private investment.

AEC Tech | Nov 12, 2020

The Weekly show: Nvidia's Omniverse, AI for construction scheduling, COVID-19 signage

BD+C editors speak with experts from ALICE Technologies, Build Group, Hastings Architecture, Nvidia, and Woods Bagot on the November 12 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.



Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021