flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

AIA: Design services saw increase in February, but economic footings are rapidly shifting

Coronavirus

AIA: Design services saw increase in February, but economic footings are rapidly shifting

"The rapid pull-back in activity throughout the economy will obviously be felt in the design and construction sector, and architecture firms will be one of the first to see how these events play out,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.


By AIA | March 17, 2020
AIA: Design services saw increase in February but economic footings are rapidly shifting

Photo: Pixabay

   

Demand for design services in February increased at a solid pace for the sixth month in a row, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 53.4 for February reflects an increase in design services provided by U.S. architecture firms (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). 

During February, both the new project inquiries and design contracts scores moderated slightly but remained in positive territory, posting scores of 56.5 and 52.0 respectively. 

“Business conditions at architecture firms have been surprisingly positive so far this year. However, firms were just beginning to feel the impact of the dramatic slowdown caused by COVID-19 as this survey was being conducted in early March.” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “The rapid pull-back in activity throughout the economy will obviously be felt in the design and construction sector, and architecture firms will be one of the first to see how these events play out.”

Key ABI highlights for February include:
• Regional averages: South (58.0); Midwest (53.6); West (49.8); Northeast (49.4)
• Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (53.5); institutional (52.8); mixed practice (52.7); commercial/industrial (52.4)
• Project inquiries index: 56.6
• Design contracts index: 52.0

Related Stories

Coronavirus | Oct 2, 2020

With revenues drying up, colleges reexamine their student housing projects

Shifts to online learning raise questions about the value of campus residence life.

Coronavirus | Oct 1, 2020

The Weekly show: Decarbonizing Chicago, re-evaluating delayed projects, and the future of the jobsite

The October 1 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.

Coronavirus | Sep 28, 2020

Cities to boost spending on green initiatives after the pandemic

More bikeways, car restrictions, mass transit, climate resilience are on tap.

Coronavirus | Sep 28, 2020

Evaluating and investing resources to navigate past the COVID-19 pandemic

As AEC firm leaders consider worst-case scenarios and explore possible solutions to surmount them, they learn to become nimble, quick, and ready to pivot as circumstances demand.

Coronavirus | Sep 24, 2020

The Weekly show: Building optimization tech, the future of smart cities, and storm shelter design

The September 24 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.

Coronavirus | Sep 10, 2020

Mobile ordering is a centerpiece of Burger King’s new design

Its reimagined restaurants are 60% smaller, with several pickup options.

Coronavirus | Sep 9, 2020

Prefab: Construction’s secret weapon against COVID-19

How to know if offsite production is right for your project.

Coronavirus | Sep 3, 2020

The Weekly show: JLL's construction outlook for 2020, and COVID-19's impact on sustainability

The September 3 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand. 

Coronavirus | Sep 1, 2020

6 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 1, 2020

Co-working developers pivot to survive the pandemic, and the rise of inquiry-based learning in K-12 communities.

Coronavirus | Aug 28, 2020

7 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 28, 2020

Hotel occupancy likely to dip by 29%, and pandemic helps cannabis industry gain firmer footing.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


MFPRO+ Special Reports

Top 10 trends in affordable housing

Among affordable housing developers today, there’s one commonality tying projects together: uncertainty. AEC firms share their latest insights and philosophies on the future of affordable housing in BD+C's 2023 Multifamily Annual Report.



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