Summary: How can you position your firm to remain profitable in a time when recession, tight credit, and soaring costs are eating into consumer confidence and the willingness of clients to build and financiers to lend? Join in April 29 from 1:30 to 3 p.m., EDT, to find out as the AIA brings a free on-line seminar right to your office or component.

AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA, will set the pace with an analysis of the latest data from the Architecture Billings Index (ABI), which has shown its steepest downturn in its 12-year history. Providing the large-firm perspective will be Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects Managing Principal Robert G. Packard III, Assoc. AIA, the current chair of the AIA Large Firm Roundtable on Excellence in Design and Practice. And sharing her insights into small-firm practice excellence will be Karen L.W. Harris, AIA, principal, Architecture Matters, and past chair of the AIA Small Project Practitioners Knowledge Community.

The index shows a downturn
The ABI is a leading economic indicator of the design and construction industry. Conceived by Baker in the mid-1990s and developed by the AIA Economics and Market Research team, the ABI is reported monthly in AIArchitect and cited widely in the national news media, including the Wall Street Journal. Based on a survey of AIA-firm leaders across the country, the ABI measures both billings and inquiries and accurately predicts nonresidential construction activity approximately 9 to 12 months in advance of nonresidential construction spending. An index number below 50 indicates a downturn in business conditions, and, with the ABI falling to 42 in March, the index points to a slowdown at firms with commercial or industrial specializations in many parts of the country.

If you are an AIA member who manages an architecture practice, “Architecture Practice in an Economic Downturn” will help you plan and prepare for market volatility. This Webcast will explore the economic conditions facing the construction industry, explain them in real terms, assess the potential consequences, and present options for reducing the impact on architecture firms and practice.

Learning objectives
The three learning objectives for this Web seminar are:

• Explore current economic projections and what they mean for architecture firms and practitioners
• Recognize how to apply past lessons to current economic conditions to mitigate the risks from market volatility
• Examine methods for developing strategies and tactics not only to survive but also to thrive under soft business conditions.

Who should participate?
This program will be valuable for anyone involved in architecture practice management and strategic planning—in large firms, in small firms, or as sole practitioners.

Technical requirements
This Webcast will be accessible through your preferred Web browser, such as Internet Explorer. No software downloads or plug-ins are required to participate. There will be no accompanying audio conference call for this presentation. Audio for the Webcast is heard through the speakers on your computer.

Questions can be submitted using a text-based chat feature. You will find the chat box on the same Web page that you use to view the Webcast.

Registration
Although this Webcast is offered at no cost to AIA members, advance registration is required. To ensure the widest possible Webcast viewership at the least cost to your Institute, participants are urged to register in groups. When registering, please provide the name and AIA membership number of each participant in your group.

AIA/CES learning units
The Webcast offers 1.5 AIA Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) learning units (LUs). Only those participants who attend the entire 1.5-hour program will receive LUs. After completing the course evaluation, each group should submit a list of participants who completed this program so that they all receive course credit.

For more information
If you have questions about this Webcast, contact AIA Information Central by e-mail at infocentral@aia.org or by phone at 800-242-3837.