As the U.S. construction industry continues to rebound from the downturn in the past economic cycle, "The Business of Architecture: 2014 AIA Firm Survey Report" shows that design activity at architecture firms has recovered to pre-recession levels.
Most firms have seen revenue levels at least stabilize, if not finally begin to grow with gross billings at architecture firms increasing by 20% from 2011.
Key findings include:
- With losses during the economic downturn, architecture firms have become smaller and younger with 43% having been founded since the year 2000, with one-third of those firms founded just since 2010.
- Renovations of existing facilities account for a larger share of design activity than during the last construction boom.
- Nearly two-thirds of large firms worked on international projects in 2013.
- Over a third of architecture firms nationally—and virtually all larger firms—were using some form of BIM for billable projects.
- Twelve percent of firms are using energy modeling software for billable projects.
- Twenty-one percent of firms have worked on one or more projects that incorporate resilient design strategies.
- Even with most of the institutional building category remaining in recession in 2013, this sector generated half of the billings at architecture firms.
- Within the institutional category, education facilities accounted for 21% of overall billings.
The full survey is available for purchase here.
Related Stories
| Nov 2, 2011
Mega deals drive 28% increase in global engineering and construction merger and acquisition value
Financial investors lead mega deal activity, China most active country in global domestic deals.
| Nov 2, 2011
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. breaks ground on Alexandria Center in Cambridge, Mass.
307,000-sf building to be house to executive offices of Biogen Idec.
| Nov 2, 2011
CRSI’s Manual of Standard Practice now available
This resource contains information on recommended industry practices for estimating, detailing, fabricating, and placing reinforcing steel for reinforced concrete construction.
| Nov 2, 2011
John W. Baumgarten Architect, P.C, wins AIA Long Island Chapter‘s Healthcare Award for Renovation
The two-story lobby features inlaid marble floors and wood-paneled wainscoting that pays homage to the building’s history.
| Nov 2, 2011
Jacobs announces acquisition of KlingStubbins
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. announced that it has acquired KlingStubbins. Officials did not disclose the terms of the agreement. Jacobs' acquisition of KlingStubbins, which has approximately 500 employees located in the United States and Asia, particularly enhances the Company's capabilities in design. KlingStubbins provides professional services in planning, architecture, engineering and interiors.
| Nov 1, 2011
Perkins Eastman opens office in San Francisco
Located at 23 Geary Street in the One Kearny building, the 8,100 sf office will accommodate a growing staff of 45.
| Nov 1, 2011
Sasaki expands national sports design studio
Sasaki has also added Stephen Sefton to the sports design studio as senior associate.
| Nov 1, 2011
Holcim awards winners for North America announced
A socio-architectural project to create regional food-gathering nodes and a logistics network in Canada's high arctic territory won the top prize for North America of $100,000.
| Oct 27, 2011
iProspect selects VLK Architects for new office design
Company growth prompted iProspect to make the decision to move to a new space.
