December 12, 2008
  2008 COMPONENT SURVEY OF BUSINESS CONDITIONS
Business Conditions in All Regions of the Country Weakened in 2008; Demand for Architects Also Slowed
Business conditions weakened substantially in 2008 in virtually all AIA regions, according to component leaders and executives. Two-thirds of the AIA regions indicated that current business conditions are “so-so” or worse, and many regions reported that conditions are much worse this year than in 2008. The demand for architects has also declined in this economic slowdown, and although experienced architects remain in highest demand, the degree of need has lessened. AIA Economics Research Manager Jennifer Riskus reports that business conditions have also weakened in all building sectors, with component leaders reporting that the residential sector is the weakest, followed by commercial/industrial and institutional.

kiplinger connection
Energy • The Economy • Small Business
Energy: Oil prices have hit their trough.
The Economy: Improvements by spring, hopefully.
Small Business: Selling your firm? Don’t do it now.

“Greenstep” Video #12 Delineates Deconstruction
Two-minute programs augment the Institute’s Walk the Walk campaign
On December 8, the AIA launched the final of 12 short video episodes for architects to share with clients who want to plan a new building or renovate an existing one using green building principles. “Deconstruction” explains to clients how salvaged materials from demolished buildings can gain new life in new uses, reducing the new building’s carbon footprint and bottom line as well. (The first video is on water conservation; the second covers smart controls; the third, radiant heating and cooling; the fourth, vegetation and sun control; the fifth, the whole building approach; the sixth, green tags; the seventh, energy modeling; the eighth, green roofs; the ninth, daylighting; the tenth, choosing green materials; and the eleventh, carbon offsets.

 

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Welcome to the Business Zone
This is the place for our monthly Work-on-the-Boards survey report, quarterly Housing Trends survey report, and biannual Consensus Forecast, all by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. You’ll also find tips for managing the business side of your practice, as well as the weekly Kiplinger Connection.