flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

AIA: Architecture Billings Index remains on solid footing

Architects

AIA: Architecture Billings Index remains on solid footing

The June ABI score was down from May, but the figure was positive for the fifth consecutive month. 


By AIA | July 20, 2016

Construction in Philadelphia in the summer of 2016. Photo: Alexis Lewis/Creative Commons.

Buoyed by increasing levels of demand across all project types, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) was positive in June for the fifth consecutive month.

As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to 12 month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the June ABI score was 52.6, down from the mark of 53.1 in the previous month. This score still reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.6, down from a reading of 60.1 the previous month.

“Demand for residential projects has surged this year, greatly exceeding the pace set in 2015. This suggests strong future growth for housing in the coming year,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “While we expect to see momentum continue for the overall design and construction industry in the months ahead, the fact that the value of design contracts dipped into negative territory in June for the first time in more than two years is something of a concern.”

Key June ABI highlights:

  • Regional averages: South (55.5), West (54.1), Northeast (51.8), Midwest (48.2)
  • Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (57.9), institutional (52.7), mixed practice (51.0), commercial / industrial (50.3)
  • Project inquiries index: 58.6
  • Design contracts index: 49.7
  • The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.

Related Stories

Architects | May 26, 2017

Innovations in addressing homelessness

Parks departments and designers find new approaches to ameliorate homelessness.

Architects | May 26, 2017

BIG plans: Architecture isn’t Bjarke Ingels Group’s only growth path

Kai-Uwe Bergmann, the firm’s head of global business development, says engineering and urban planning are key opportunities. And how about that Hyperloop?

Museums | May 25, 2017

The museum as workspace

Many museum staff are resistant to the idea of open offices.

| May 24, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: Applying machine learning to building design, Daniel Davis, WeWork

Daniel Davis offers a glimpse into the world at WeWork, and how his team is rethinking workplace design with the help of machine learning tools.

| May 24, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: Learning from Silicon Valley - Using SaaS to automate AEC, Sean Parham, Aditazz

Sean Parham shares how Aditazz is shaking up the traditional design and construction approaches by applying lessons from the tech world.

| May 24, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: The data-driven future for AEC, Nathan Miller, Proving Ground

In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! (May 11, 2017, Chicago), Nathan Miller presents his vision of a data-driven future for the business of design.

Architects | May 23, 2017

Queens Museum exhibit shows New York City as it could have been

The installation will showcase 200 years worth of unrealized Big Apple projects via original drawings, renderings, newly commissioned models, and 3D visualizations.

Education Facilities | May 22, 2017

Educational design taking lessons from tech firms

Recently, in educational design, we have seen a trend toward more flexible learning spaces.

Architects | May 16, 2017

Architecture that helps children fall in love with the environment

The coming decades present a major ecological challenge... so let’s encourage the next generation to do something about it!

AEC Tech | May 11, 2017

Accelerate Live!: Social media reactions from BD+C's AEC innovation conference

BD+C's inaugural Accelerate Live! innovation conference took place May 11, in Chicago.

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