A late summer demand for design services has seen more work for architectural firms across the country, according to a new survey published by the American Institute of Architects.
With any score above 50 signifying an increase in billings, the survey, known as the Architecture Billings Index, saw an overall score of 53.3 in August, compared with where matters stood in July at 51.0.
Even more, the score for new project inquiries improved from 56.1 in July to nearly 58 last month.
While on the plus side, the numbers were smaller than where things stood exactly a year ago, when the overall score stood at 55.6 and new project inquiries posted a vibrant 64.7.
Even so, all sectors posted increases, with commercial and industrial at 51.2; multi-family residential at 52.0; and institutional at 51.2. Firms with mixed practices came in with a 51.2 reading.
The South showed the greatest billings vibrancy, with a cumulative score of 52.9; followed by the Midwest at 51.4; the West at 50.2; and the Northeast at 49.8.
In a statement, Kermit Baker, chief economist with the AIA, noted that despite a “variety of economic storm clouds confronting the nation’s building industry, designers should expect “at least another 9- to 12-month runway before construction activity is negatively affected.”
By Garry Boulard
