Economists ponder uneven recovery, weigh benefits of big infrastructure [2014 Giants 300 Report]

According to expert forecasters, multifamily projects, the Panama Canal expansion, and the petroleum industry’s “shale gale” could be saving graces for commercial AEC firms seeking growth opportunities in an economy that’s provided its share of recent disappointments.

In a spring industry roundtable hosted by Reed Construction Data, economists from the American Institute of Architects, the Associated General Contractors of America, and RCD discussed the mixed signals in commercial design and construction, and the seemingly perennial predictions of a breakthrough.

The overall conclusion, according to Bernard Markstein, U.S. Chief Economist for RCD? The economy’s improving and employment is growing, but both ought to be better by now.

Nevertheless, Markstein identifies several positives in the overall picture. “The Federal Reserve has started to taper its activity, without too much impact on interest rates; these remain historically low,” he says. “Lenders are slowly loosening lending standards. We’ve already seen most of the impact of sharp cuts in federal spending, and those should be done for now.”

Multifamily continues to be a particularly bright spot, according to Markstein. Other sectors remain more problematic, with a brutal winter limiting overall activity in many regions.

TOP ARCHITECTURE FIRMS

2013 Architecture Revenue ($)

1 Gensler $883,221,189

2 Perkins+will 356,360,000

3 NBBJ 196,784,000

4 Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates 177,715,000

5 Callison 160,912,398

6 Perkins Eastman 155,000,000

7 ZGF Architects 128,101,136

8 Populous 111,754,000

9 Corgan 95,097,372

10 MulvannyG2 Architecture 73,200,000

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TOP ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING FIRMS

2013 A/E Revenue ($)

1 Stantec $450,836,575

2 HOK 400,000,000

3 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill 334,525,346

4 HDR 303,000,000

5 HKS 255,063,624

6 CannonDesign 213,000,000

7 RTKL Associates 205,373,000

8 SmithGroupJJR 162,973,000

9 Hammel, Green and Abrahamson 119,100,000

10 DLR Group 110,000,000

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Kermit Baker, Chief Economist for the AIA, admits that “nonresidential construction has had a hard time building momentum behind the recovery,” and that the AIA Architecture Billings Index keeps hitting soft spots. Reconstruction, rather than new builds, currently represents a larger-than-usual share of the business, at about 25% of nonresidential construction activity.

Baker predicts that firms doing lodging, office, retail, and manufacturing projects should see decent results this year, with hotel construction especially hot (tracking at 37% growth from February 2013 to February 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau). Communication-related construction is another booming area, with growth at more than 50% year over year.

However, some sectors that represent bread-and-butter business for many top architecture firms are looking grimmer, especially healthcare (off about 4% from February to February) and education (down about 7%). Baker says project financing remains “a chronic problem.”

He believes the long-range outlook is better, however. “New design contracts have been growing, and those stats lead construction. Our member firms are building up more work.”

Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the AGC of America, reported that his group’s members think the manufacturing, retail/lodging/warehouse, private office, and healthcare sectors should grow this year compared with 2013. Most members are feeling positive overall, he says. “For the first time, two-thirds of our respondents expect the market to upturn either this year or next year,” Simonson says. “In previous years I have been more optimistic than our members. Not this year.”

Tighter government spending on education and infrastructure, consumers’ interest in online buying, and companies’ drive to shrink office space per employee have all restrained commercial AEC growth, according to Simonson. But there are positive trends, as well. In addition to acknowledging the continued strength of the multifamily sector, he says big infrastructure projects provide ample opportunities for AEC firms positioned to take advantage of them.

In particular, Simonson points to massive development related to the so-called “shale gale”: exploitation of America’s petroleum reserves through advanced extraction technologies (notably, fracking). The employment is drawing large numbers of workers to areas that have previously been sparsely populated. Primary “shale gale” zones, or “plays,” include the Bakken (North Dakota/Montana/Saskatchewan), the Niobrara (Kansas/

Wyoming), the Permian (Texas/New Mexico), the Eagle Ford (Texas), the Haynesville (Texas/Louisiana), and the Marcellus (West Virginia/Pennsylvania/New York). 

Firms that do large infrastructure projects related to roads, site prep, piping, rail lines, and drilling obviously will benefit, but there’s also an urgent need for housing (typically, modular dorms and extended-stay hotels), recreational facilities, and food service. Nearby existing towns also benefit, not only in terms of hotel, apartment, and restaurant construction but also retail, healthcare, education, and government projects. The burgeoning industry entails environmental controversy, turbulent politics, and an uncertain future, but for now, building is proceeding at a rapid clip.

Simonson also points to upcoming development in U.S. port cities on both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico linked to expansion of the Panama Canal, which is set to be completed next year. Again, in addition to big infrastructure, related facilities will be needed: warehouses, terminals, equipment garages, and even data centers. Incoming workers may also need new housing and services facilities. Commercial AEC firms with the right capabilities could reap big gains.