HORIZONTV FEATURING BD+C: WATCH EPISODES ON DEMAND AT HORIZONTV

𝕏

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.

Continue Reading

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

Tags

Related Stories

| May 7, 2012

BIM in the academy

Lessons for the AEC industry.

Atrium of the PORTAL at UNC Charlotte.

| May 7, 2012

4 more trends in higher-education facilities

Our series on college buildings continues with a look at new classroom designs, flexible space, collaboration areas, and the evolving role of the university library.

A project undergoes design review at MHTN Architects, a 65-member firm based in

| May 7, 2012

Best AEC Firms: MHTN Architects nine decades of dedication to Utah

This 65-person design firm has served Salt Lake City and the state of Utah for the better part of 90 years.

Variegated brick at the street level, brushed aluminum, and a mixture of clear a

| May 7, 2012

2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: TD Ameritrade Park

The new stadium for the College World Series in Omaha combines big-league amenities within a traditional minor league atmosphere.

Built within four years, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital is one of the largest h

| May 7, 2012

2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: Fort Belvoir Community Hospital

A new military hospital invokes evidence-based design to create a LEED-certified facility for the nation’s soldiers and their families.

Metal tiles were used in the physical therapy gymnasium to give the space a more

| May 7, 2012

2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital

How a Building Team created a high-tech rehabilitation center for wounded veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Tower's exterior skin includes a rainscreen, glass, and metal panel system.

| May 3, 2012

2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: Rush University Medical Center

This fully integrated Building Team opted for a multi-prime contracting strategy to keep construction going on Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, despite the economic meltdown.

| May 3, 2012

U of Michigan team looking to create highly efficient building envelope designs

The system combines the use of sensors, novel construction materials, and utility control software in an effort to create technology capable of reducing a building’s carbon footprint.

| May 3, 2012

Best commercial modular buildings and marketing programs recognized

Judges scored entries on architectural excellence, technical innovation, cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, and calendar days to complete.

UNT students and staff get hands-on experience working with green technologies a

| May 3, 2012

Zero Energy Research Lab opens at North Texas

The living lab—the only one of its kind in Texas—is designed to test various technologies and systems in order to achieve a net-zero consumption of energy.

Top Articles

Contractors

Construction industry CEOs kick off effort to prevent suicide among workers

Mass Timber

Mass timber achieves ‘firsts’ in three more markets

Sports and Recreational Facilities

Stadium renovation plans unveiled for Boston’s National Women’s Soccer League

More In Category

Multifamily Housing

A case for mid-rise: How multifamily housing can reshape our cities

Often referred to as “five-over-ones,” the mid-rise apartment type is typically comprised of five stories of apartments on top of a concrete “podium” of ground-floor retail. The main criticism of the “five-over-one” is that they are often too predictable.

Sports and Recreational Facilities

Stadium renovation plans unveiled for Boston’s National Women’s Soccer League

A city-owned 75-year-old stadium in Boston’s historic Franklin Park will be renovated for a new National Women’s Soccer League team. The park, designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted in the 1880s, is the home of White Stadium, which was built in 1949 and has since fallen into disrepair.

Laboratories

From sterile to stimulating: The rise of community-centric life sciences campuses

To distinguish their life sciences campuses, developers are partnering with architectural and design firms to reimagine life sciences facilities as vibrant, welcoming destinations. By emphasizing four key elements—wellness, collaboration, biophilic design, and community integration—they are setting their properties apart.

Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive reuse project transforms 1840s-era mill building into rental housing

A recently opened multifamily property in Lawrence, Mass., is an adaptive reuse of an 1840s-era mill building. Stone Mill Lofts is one of the first all-electric mixed-income multifamily properties in Massachusetts. The all-electric building meets ambitious modern energy codes and stringent National Park Service historic preservation guidelines.

Most Popular Content