work-on-the-boards
Architecture Firm Billings Show Signs of Spring Thaw
The AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) improved significantly in March, easing to its highest level since August 2008 with a score of 43.7. This means that while business conditions at architecture firms still remain weak, the number of firms reporting declining firm billings is fewer than it has been in the last several months. However, conditions are still quite uncertain and while business is improving for some firms, it remains depressed at others. In another positive piece of news, inquiries into new projects continued to rebound this month. For the first time in seven months growth in inquiries was reported as the score reached the highest level in more than a year at 56.6.

Book REview
Building Information Modeling: A Strategic Implementation Guide
It’s finally here: This is the book to read if you are straddling the Building Information Modeling fence, wondering if the grass really is greener on the BIM side. (Bottom line: It is, so jump on over!) And if your firm already is on BIM terra firma, this book, written on the level of strategies thinking, can help you both see the big picture and refine your work processes to build on the full potential of BIM for all players in the industry.

kiplinger connection
Housing Market • The Economy • Priming the Pump
Housing Market: Investors are returning; not for flipping, for the long-term.
The Economy: Deflation? No. Inflation? Maybe, following stimulus spending.
Priming the Pump: For now, though, stimulus funds are going a long way.

Candidates Issue Statements
Elections for the Institute’s next first vice president/president-elect, vice presidents, and treasurer will be held April 30–May 2 at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Expo in San Francisco. Now posted is a PDF file of all eight candidates’ position statements.