flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Architecture Billings Index moderates slightly, remains strong

Market Data

Architecture Billings Index moderates slightly, remains strong

Continued growth results in gains in all regions and major sectors.


By AIA | May 18, 2022
AIA ABI Design Services
Courtesy Pixabay.

For the fifteenth consecutive month architecture firms reported increasing demand for design services in April, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

AIA’s Architecture Billings Index score for April was 56.5 compared to 58.0 in March. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings. During April, scores for both new project inquiries and design contracts moderated slightly, but remained strong, posting scores of 62.3 and 55.4, respectively.

“While business conditions at architecture firms have been very encouraging over the past year, project activity has been steadily shifting toward work on existing buildings,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “Billings for reconstruction projects exceeded those for new construction for the first time in the last two decades. While the reconstruction share of building activity will continue to ebb and flow, in general, we’ll continue to move toward an increased share of building activity for reconstruction and a decreased share for new construction.”  

Key ABI Highlights for April Include:

  • Regional averages: West (58.2); Midwest (57.6); South (57.3); Northeast (53.1)
  • Sector index breakdown: mixed practice (61.2); commercial/industrial (60.7); multi-family residential (57.2); institutional (51.8)

The regional and sector categories are calculated as a three-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.

To learn more about recent economic developments impacting design and construction, visit AIA’s website.

Related Stories

Market Data | Sep 22, 2016

Architecture Billings Index slips, overall outlook remains positive

Business conditions are slumping in the Northeast.

Market Data | Sep 20, 2016

Backlog skyrockets for largest firms during second quarter, but falls to 8.5 months overall

While a handful of commercial construction segments continue to be associated with expanding volumes, for the most part, the average contractor is no longer getting busier, says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

Designers | Sep 13, 2016

5 trends propelling a new era of food halls

Food halls have not only become an economical solution for restauranteurs and chefs experiencing skyrocketing retail prices and rents in large cities, but they also tap into our increased interest in gourmet locally sourced food, writes Gensler's Toshi Kasai.

Building Team | Sep 6, 2016

Letting your resource take center stage: A guide to thoughtful site selection for interpretive centers

Thoughtful site selection is never about one factor, but rather a confluence of several components that ultimately present trade-offs for the owner.

Market Data | Sep 2, 2016

Nonresidential spending inches lower in July while June data is upwardly revised to eight-year record

Nonresidential construction spending has been suppressed over the last year or so with the primary factor being the lack of momentum in public spending.

Industry Research | Sep 1, 2016

CannonDesign releases infographic to better help universities obtain more R&D funding

CannonDesign releases infographic to better help universities obtain more R&D funding.

Industry Research | Aug 25, 2016

Building bonds: The role of 'trusted advisor' is earned not acquired

A trusted advisor acts as a guiding partner over the full course of a professional relationship.

Multifamily Housing | Aug 17, 2016

A new research platform launches for a data-deprived multifamily sector

The list of leading developers, owners, and property managers that are funding the NMHC Research Foundation speaks to the information gap it hopes to fill.  

Hotel Facilities | Aug 17, 2016

Hotel construction continues to flourish in major cities

But concerns about overbuilding persist.

Market Data | Aug 16, 2016

Leading economists predict construction industry growth through 2017

The Chief Economists for ABC, AIA, and NAHB all see the construction industry continuing to expand over the next year and a half.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Construction Costs

New download: BD+C's May 2024 Market Intelligence Report

Building Design+Construction's monthly Market Intelligence Report offers a snapshot of the health of the U.S. building construction industry, including the commercial, multifamily, institutional, and industrial building sectors. This report tracks the latest metrics related to construction spending, demand for design services, contractor backlogs, and material price trends.




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021