Business Conditions Continue to Improve

 

Business conditions at architecture firms continued to show signs of improvement in December, as the AIA?EUR??,,????'?????< Courtesy of AIA

The majority of survey panelists also reported that the value of design contracts remained relatively unchanged in December from November, according to Jennifer Riskus, AIA. While 18 percent reported that the value increased, an even larger share (22 percent) reported that the value decreased during that time period. However, these responses may reflect seasonal variation in the signing of new design work.

Business conditions have greatly improved with staffs working overtime. Some firms are using contract workers and may hire again by the end of the first quarter, according to an 11-person firm in the West.

Some firms are doing a lot more work up front to get a project than they’ve had to do in the past. One example is cost opinions. In the past this was part of service once a contract was signed. Now it appears that this is becoming an expectation in order to be considered for a project, according to a 3-person firm in the Midwest.

– Courtesy of AIA